Chillicothe — Ch. 50 Human Rights § 50-105
Blockbusting
Operative Text
It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate within the city on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap. (2) Distribute, or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate in the city to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap of residents in the vicinity of the property involved. (3) Intentionally create alarm, among residents of any community, by transmitting communications in any manner, including a telephone call whether or not conversation thereby ensues, with a design to induce any owner of residential real estate in the city to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-103.
Chillicothe Ch. 50 § 50-105 prohibits a practice known as 'blockbusting,' in which someone attempts to pressure property owners into selling or leasing by suggesting that the arrival of people of a particular race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, or disability will lower property values or change the character of a neighborhood. The rule covers solicitations, written materials, and intentional communications—including phone calls—designed to stoke fear or alarm for this purpose. This provision applies to residential real estate transactions within the city and mirrors protections found in Illinois state law under 775 ILCS 5/3-103.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chillicothe should be aware that under Ch. 50 § 50-105, any solicitation, written communication, or other outreach that implies neighborhood demographic change will harm property values is prohibited. Compliant operators ensure that their marketing, listing, and outreach practices are based on objective property characteristics rather than the protected characteristics of current or prospective neighbors. Real estate professionals working with landlords should also review their own solicitation practices to confirm they do not run afoul of this blockbusting prohibition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants and community members in Chillicothe are protected under Ch. 50 § 50-105 from efforts by any person to manipulate housing decisions through fear-based messaging tied to the demographics of a neighborhood. If a tenant or property owner believes they have been subjected to blockbusting tactics—such as alarming phone calls, flyers, or solicitations referencing the protected characteristics of neighbors—they may consider documenting the communications and exploring complaint options through local human rights channels or tenant-rights organizations familiar with Chillicothe's ordinance and the parallel Illinois Human Rights Act provisions at 775 ILCS 5/3-103.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation