Libertyville — Ch. 12 Human Rights § 12-47
Discriminatory actions
Operative Text
(a) Discriminatory terms. It shall be an unlawful housing practice for any real estate broker, salesman, agent, owner, or other person to sell or rent or offer to sell or rent a real property on terms, conditions or privileges that discriminate between persons because of race, color, religion or national origin. (b) Refusal to negotiate. It shall be an unlawful real estate practice for any real estate broker, salesman, agent, owner or other person to refuse to negotiate for, enter into, or perform any sale or rent of any real property, because of the race, color, religion, or national origin of any party to such sales or rent. (c) Withholding housing. It shall be an unlawful real estate practice for any real estate broker, salesman, agent, owner or other person to represent to any person representing himself as financially qualified, that any real property is not available for inspection, purchase, sale, lease or occupancy when in fact it is so available, or otherwise to withhold real property from any person because of race, color, religion or national origin. (d) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to the rental of any room or dwelling unit in any owner occupied dwelling which consists of more than one (1) but less than five (5) dwelling units. As used herein, the term "dwelling unit" means one (1) or more rooms which are arranged, designed, or used as living quarters for one (1) family or one (1) individual. The term "owner" includes the spouse or any lineal descendant or ancestor of the owner. (e) Limitations. Nothing in this article shall require an owner to offer property to the public at large before selling or renting it, providing he complies with all other provisions of this article. Nor shall this article be deemed to prohibit owners from giving preference to prospective tenants or buyers for any reason other than religion, race, color, or national origin. Nothing in this article shall require an owner to offer property for sale or lease or to show his property to any person if such person is not negotiating for the purchase or lease of such property in good faith. (f) Advertisements, signs and notices. It shall be an unlawful real estate practice for any real estate broker, salesman, agent, owner or other person to publish or circulate a statement, advertisement or notice or to post or erect or cause any person to post or erect, any sign or notice upon any real property, indicating any intent to sell or lease any real property in a manner that is unlawful under this section.
Libertyville Ch. 12 Human Rights § 12-47 prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin across a wide range of real estate activities, including setting rental or sale terms, refusing to negotiate, misrepresenting availability, and publishing discriminatory advertisements. The rule applies to brokers, agents, owners, and others involved in real estate transactions. A limited exemption exists for owner-occupied buildings with two to four dwelling units, and owners retain the right to set preferences for reasons unrelated to the protected characteristics.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12-47, compliant property owners and managers apply consistent terms and conditions to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin, and they accurately represent the availability of any unit to all financially qualified inquirers. Operators also review all advertising, signage, and notices to ensure no language signals a discriminatory intent. The exemption in § 12-47(d) for owner-occupied buildings with two to four units is narrow and defined, so operators should understand whether their specific property type qualifies before relying on it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-47 gives renters and prospective buyers in Libertyville the right to be free from discriminatory terms, refusals to negotiate, and misrepresentations about a property's availability based on race, color, religion, or national origin. If a tenant or applicant believes a landlord, broker, or agent has violated this provision, general enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the local human rights authority, raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or contacting a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance. Reviewing the full text of Ch. 12 Human Rights § 12-47, including its exemptions and limitations, can help clarify whether a particular situation falls within the rule's scope.
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.
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