Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-060
Discriminatory practices – Credit transactions (Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (HRO))
Operative Text
No person shall discriminate against any individual in any aspect of a credit transaction, or in any terms and conditions of bonding because of the individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, or because of the actual or perceived association with such an individual. (Prior code § 199-6; Added Coun. J. 12-21-88, p. 23526; Amend Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 96031, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 18514, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 4-16-25, p. 26724, § 2)
Section 6-10-060 of the Chicago Municipal Code prohibits discrimination in credit transactions and bonding terms based on a wide range of protected characteristics, including race, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, source of income, and several others. The rule also extends protection to people who are perceived to be associated with a member of a protected class, even if they do not personally hold that characteristic. This provision applies broadly to any aspect of a credit transaction, meaning no stage of the process is exempt from the anti-discrimination requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chicago Municipal Code § 6-10-060, property owners and managers who offer or arrange credit-related transactions—such as financing agreements or bonding arrangements tied to tenancy—are generally expected to apply consistent, neutral criteria across all applicants regardless of protected characteristics like race, source of income, or disability. Compliant operators typically document their credit evaluation standards and apply them uniformly to avoid differential treatment at any stage of the transaction. Because the provision also covers perceived association with a protected class, operators generally review their practices to ensure that no applicant is treated differently based on who they are associated with.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago Municipal Code § 6-10-060 gives individuals the right to be free from discriminatory treatment in any aspect of a credit transaction or bonding arrangement, covering a broad set of protected characteristics including source of income, gender identity, and marital status. If a tenant believes they were denied credit, offered worse terms, or otherwise treated differently because of a protected characteristic, they may have grounds to raise this provision as a basis for a complaint. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with a local civil rights or human relations agency, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or seeking guidance from a legal aid provider familiar with Chicago's fair housing and credit protections.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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