Downers Grove — Art. 13A.II Fair Housing § 13A.21
Prohibited Acts Of Owners And Lessees
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for any owner or lessee to fail or refuse: To sell a dwelling which is then being publicly offered for sale; or To lease or rent a dwelling which is then being publicly offered for lease or rent, to a person who is ready, willing and able to purchase, lease or rent the same, as the case may be, and who has made or who tenders a bona fide offer therefor which is at least as favorable to such owner or lessee as the terms on which such dwelling is then being publicly offered, or to fail or refuse to negotiate in good faith with any such person for such sale, lease or rental, but only in each case if such failure or refusal is because of the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, or handicap of such person. (Ord. No. 1349, § 4.3.)
Downers Grove Fair Housing § 13A.21 prohibits owners and lessees from refusing to sell, lease, or rent a dwelling—or from refusing to negotiate in good faith—when a qualified buyer or renter has made a legitimate offer matching the publicly advertised terms, if that refusal is motivated by the person's race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, or disability. The rule applies whenever a property is actively being marketed to the public. It covers both outright refusals and failures to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13A.21, compliant property owners and managers treat all applicants who submit bona fide offers at or above publicly advertised terms consistently, regardless of protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability. Operators generally document their marketing terms and the basis for any decision to accept or reject an offer, so that the record reflects legitimate, non-discriminatory business reasons. Maintaining uniform written criteria for evaluating offers is a common practice associated with compliance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 13A.21 gives prospective buyers and renters the right not to be turned away or stonewalled in negotiations because of protected characteristics like race, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or disability, when they have made a genuine offer matching the publicly advertised terms. If you believe an owner or lessee has violated this provision, general enforcement paths include filing a fair housing complaint with a local or state civil rights agency, or contacting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance. Documenting the advertised terms, your offer, and any communications with the owner or lessee can be relevant to any complaint process under this ordinance.
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 8, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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