Lynwood — Ch. 54 Human Relations § 54-59
Steering; restriction of choice
Operative Text
It is unlawful to restrict or attempt to restrict, because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental handicap, familial status, or national origin, the choices of a person by words or acts in connection with buying or renting a dwelling so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. Prohibited actions under this section, which are generally referred to as unlawful steering practices, include, but are not limited to the following: (1) Discouraging any person from inspecting, purchasing or renting a dwelling because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry, or because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry of persons in a community, neighborhood, or development, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing; (2) Discouraging the purchase or rental of a dwelling because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry, by exaggerating drawbacks or failing to inform any person of desirable features of a dwelling or of a community, neighborhood, or development, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing; (3) Communicating to any prospective purchaser that he would not be comfortable or compatible with existing residents of a community, neighborhood or development because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing; (4) Assigning any person to a particular section of a community, neighborhood or development, or to a particular floor of a building, because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing; and (5) Failing to inform any person of available housing opportunities in a particular section of a community, neighborhood or development, or in a particular building or particular floor of a building, because of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing.
Lynwood Ch. 54 § 54-59 prohibits a practice known as housing steering — using words or actions to limit where people can live based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or ancestry. The rule covers a broad range of conduct, including discouraging someone from viewing or renting a home, exaggerating a neighborhood's drawbacks, implying a person would not fit in with existing residents, or channeling people toward or away from particular buildings or floors. The overarching aim of the provision is to prevent housing patterns that perpetuate segregation and to protect integrated housing opportunities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Lynwood Ch. 54 § 54-59 generally ensure that all prospective buyers and renters receive the same complete and accurate information about available units, buildings, floors, and neighborhoods regardless of any protected characteristic. Compliant operators avoid any language or conduct — whether in advertising, showings, or conversations — that could be interpreted as steering someone toward or away from a particular area based on race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, marital status, or military discharge status. Staff training and consistent documentation of how housing opportunities are presented to all applicants are practices commonly associated with compliance with provisions like § 54-59.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Lynwood Ch. 54 § 54-59, individuals have the right to receive equal, unfiltered information about all available housing options without being guided away from — or toward — any dwelling, floor, or neighborhood because of a protected characteristic. If a person believes they have experienced steering, they may consider documenting the specific words or actions involved, as this kind of evidence can be relevant when raising a violation under § 54-59. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local human relations or fair housing body, contacting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance, or exploring remedies available under Lynwood's human relations 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 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
Related Rules
Source Information
Use this in your app
Access this data programmatically via our API