Jacksonville — Ch. 10 Fair Housing § 10-15
Representation
Operative Text
It shall be an unlawful real estate practice and a violation of this chapter for any person, for the purpose of inducing any other person to enter into a real estate transaction with such person, his principal or his agent: (1) To represent that a change has occurred, will occur or may occur with respect to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or unfavorable discharge from military service in the composition of the owners or occupants in any block, neighborhood or area in which the real property (which is the subject of the real estate transaction) is now located; or (2) To represent that a change with respect to the race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or unfavorable discharge from military service in the composition of the owners or occupants in any block, neighborhood, or area will result in the lowering of property values, or in an increase in criminal or anti-social behavior, or in a decline in the quality of schools in such block, neighborhood or area.
Jacksonville Ch. 10 Fair Housing § 10-15 prohibits a specific manipulative tactic in real estate known as 'blockbusting.' Under this provision, it is unlawful for anyone involved in a real estate transaction to make representations — whether true, false, or speculative — about demographic changes in a neighborhood based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, disability, or military discharge status. It is equally unlawful to suggest that such demographic changes will cause property values to fall, crime to rise, or school quality to decline, when the purpose is to pressure or induce someone into a real estate transaction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Jacksonville Ch. 10 Fair Housing § 10-15 generally ensure that no statements — written, verbal, or implied — about neighborhood demographic shifts are used as a selling or leasing tool. Compliant operators train staff and agents to avoid any language that ties protected characteristics to predictions about property values, safety, or school quality. Maintaining clear, documented communication practices helps demonstrate that marketing and leasing decisions are free from the manipulative representations this section targets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Jacksonville Ch. 10 Fair Housing § 10-15 gives renters and prospective buyers protection against being steered or pressured through fear-based demographic messaging. If a landlord, agent, or seller makes statements suggesting that changes in a neighborhood's racial, religious, or other protected-class composition will harm property values or neighborhood quality, that conduct may constitute a violation of this chapter. Individuals who believe they have encountered such representations can explore filing a complaint with a local fair housing office or tenant-rights organization, or consult the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission for guidance on available remedies.
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 Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation