Joliet — Ch. 9½ Art. II Real Estate Transactions § 9½-34
Inducements to sell or purchase by reason of race, color or religion; prohibition of solicitation
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation knowingly: (a) To solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate within the State of Illinois, on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, age, sex, sensory, mental or physical handicap. (b) To distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate in the State of Illinois to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sensory, mental, or physical handicap of residents, in the vicinity of the property involved. (c) To intentionally create alarm, among residents of any community by transmitting 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 State of Illinois to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sensory, mental or physical handicap. (d) To solicit any owner of residential property to sell or list such residential property at any time after such person or corporation has notice that such owner does not desire to sell such residential property or does not desire to be solicited to sell or list for sale such residential property. Violations hereunder may be investigated by the community relations commission of Joliet to assist in the ultimate presentation of such violations to courts of competent jurisdiction. Nothing contained herein shall limit or prohibit investigation by any other agency, person or governmental unit of competent jurisdiction.
Section 9½-34 of Joliet's Code prohibits a range of manipulative real-estate solicitation practices commonly known as 'blockbusting' or 'panic peddling.' Specifically, the provision makes it unlawful to solicit property sales, leases, or listings by suggesting that the entry of people of a particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, or disability status will reduce property values, or to distribute materials or create alarm designed to pressure owners into selling for those reasons. The rule also bars continued solicitation of any owner who has indicated they do not wish to sell or be contacted. Violations may be investigated by the Joliet Community Relations Commission and referred to courts of competent jurisdiction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. II § 9½-34 should be aware that solicitation practices tied to neighborhood demographic changes — whether through direct outreach, written materials, or phone communications — are prohibited. Compliant operators ensure that any marketing or outreach to property owners is free of references to the race, religion, national origin, disability status, or similar characteristics of current or prospective neighborhood residents. Operators also maintain records or processes to honor any owner's request not to be solicited, and cease contact promptly upon receiving such notice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents and property owners in Joliet are protected under § 9½-34 from pressure tactics that exploit fears about neighborhood demographic change to manipulate real-estate decisions. If someone believes they have been subjected to blockbusting-style solicitation — such as receiving alarming phone calls or written materials referencing the race, religion, or disability status of neighbors — they may report the conduct to the Joliet Community Relations Commission, which is authorized to investigate potential violations. Individuals may also consult a tenant-rights organization or fair-housing advocacy group to understand what additional enforcement paths, including referral to courts of competent jurisdiction, may be available.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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