Downers Grove — Art. 13A.II Fair Housing § 13A.9
Owner May Give Nondiscriminatory Preference To Buyers, Tenants, Etc
Operative Text
Nothing in this Article shall be deemed to prohibit any owner from giving preference to any prospective purchaser, lessee or tenant for any reason other than race, color, religion or national origin of such prospective purchaser, lessee or tenant or of any other person. (Ord. No. 1349, § 7.4.)
Downers Grove Fair Housing § 13A.9 establishes that the article's anti-discrimination rules do not prevent property owners from favoring one prospective buyer or tenant over another, as long as that preference is not based on race, color, religion, or national origin. In other words, owners retain broad discretion to choose among applicants for any reason that does not involve those four protected characteristics. The provision clarifies the scope of the article rather than creating a new affirmative right.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13A.9, property owners and managers in Downers Grove may lawfully apply a wide range of selection criteria—such as credit history, rental references, income thresholds, or personal preference—when choosing among applicants, provided those criteria do not involve race, color, religion, or national origin. Compliant operators typically document their selection standards in writing and apply them consistently across all applicants to demonstrate that any preference given is unrelated to the four prohibited characteristics. Keeping clear records of the criteria used for each decision supports transparency and helps show conformance with the broader requirements of Article 13A.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 13A.9 confirms that while owners have latitude to prefer certain applicants for many reasons, that latitude does not extend to preferences based on race, color, religion, or national origin. If you believe a housing decision was made on the basis of one of those four characteristics rather than a neutral criterion, the Downers Grove Fair Housing article as a whole may provide a basis for a complaint or other recourse. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing agencies can help you understand what documentation or steps are generally available when a potential violation of Article 13A is at issue.
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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