Malta — Ch. 30 Human Relations § 30-47
Restrictive covenants
Operative Text
(a) Agreements. Every provision in an oral agreement or a written instrument relating to real property which purports to forbid or restrict the conveyance, encumbrance, occupancy or lease thereof on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin is void. (b) Limitations. Every condition, restriction or prohibition, including a right of entry or possibility of reverter, which directly or indirectly limits the use or occupancy of real property on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin is void. This section shall not apply to a limitation of use on the basis of religion of real property held by a religious institution or organization or by a religious or charitable organization operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious institution or organization, and used for religious or charitable purposes. (c) Civil rights violations. It is a civil rights violation to insert in a written instrument relating to real property a provision that is void under this section or to honor or attempt to honor such a provision in the chain of title. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-105.
Malta Ch. 30 § 30-47 declares void any clause in an oral agreement or written document that attempts to restrict the sale, transfer, encumbrance, occupancy, or lease of real property based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Conditions, restrictions, or reversionary interests that limit property use on those same grounds are equally void. A narrow exception exists for religious or charitable organizations using property for religious or charitable purposes, and inserting or attempting to enforce such a void provision constitutes a civil rights violation under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Ch. 30 § 30-47 generally ensure that no deed, lease, covenant, or other instrument in their chain of title contains language restricting conveyance, occupancy, or use on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. Compliant operators review governing documents and title records to confirm that no such provisions are being honored, even passively. Inserting a void provision into any new instrument, or taking any action that attempts to enforce an existing one, is itself a civil rights violation under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Malta Ch. 30 § 30-47, tenants have a right to occupy or lease property free from restrictions based on race, color, religion, or national origin, and any agreement or instrument attempting to impose such a restriction is legally void. If a tenant believes a landlord is honoring or attempting to enforce such a provision — whether in a lease, deed covenant, or other document — that conduct constitutes a civil rights violation under this section. Tenants may consider raising such a violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, filing a complaint with a relevant civil rights authority, or consulting a tenant-rights organization to understand 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.
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