Pana — Ch. 11 Human Relations § 11-53
Prohibited acts
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for any owner of real estate, lessee, sub-lessee, real estate broker or salesman, financial institution or employee of the financial institution, advertiser, or agent of any or all of the foregoing, to discriminate against any person or persons because of their race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability with regard to the sale, exchange or rental, or any dealing concerning any housing accommodation and/or real property. In addition to the foregoing, it shall also be unlawful for any real estate broker or employee thereof, owner or other person, or financial institution dealing with housing or real property in the city: (1) To discriminate against any person in the availability of or the price, terms, conditions, or privileges of any kind relating to the sale, rental, lease, or occupancy of any housing accommodation or real property in the city or in furnishing of any facilities or services in connections therewith. (2) To publish or circulate, or cause to be published or circulated, any notice, statement or advertisement, or to announce a policy, or to use any form of application, for the purchase, lease, rental or financing of real property, or to make any record of inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of such real estate, which expresses directly or indirectly any discrimination as to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed or disability of any person. (3) To discriminate in connection with lending money, guaranteeing loans, accepting mortgages or otherwise obtaining or making available funds for the purchase, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation and/or real property. (4) To solicit for sale, lease, or listing for the sale or lease, of any housing accommodation and/or real property on the grounds of loss of value because of the present or prospective entry into any neighborhood of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability. (5) To distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner or any housing accommodation and/or real property to sell or lease his or her property because of any present or prospective change in the race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability of persons in the neighborhood. (6) To make any misrepresentations concerning the listing for sale or the anticipated listing for sale or the sale of any housing accommodation and/or real property for the purpose of inducing or attempting to induce the sale or listing for sale of any housing accommodation and/or real property by representing that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability in the area will or may result in the lowering of property values in the block, neighborhood or area in which the property is located. (7) For an owner to solicit any real estate broker to sell, rent or otherwise deal with such owner's housing accommodations and/or real property with any limitation on its sale based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability. (8) For an owner to refuse to sell, rent, or otherwise deal with any housing accommodation and/or real property because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability of the proposed buyer or tenant.
Pana Ch. 11 Human Relations § 11-53 makes it unlawful for a broad range of housing actors — including property owners, lessees, brokers, financial institutions, and their agents — to discriminate in the sale, rental, exchange, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability. The provision also specifically prohibits blockbusting practices, discriminatory advertising, and steering, meaning no one may use the prospect of demographic change in a neighborhood to pressure owners to sell or to misrepresent property values. The rule covers virtually every stage of a housing transaction, from advertising and application to lending and occupancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Pana Ch. 11 Human Relations § 11-53, compliant property owners and managers apply consistent, non-discriminatory criteria across all aspects of leasing and sales, including advertising, tenant screening, pricing, and the terms of occupancy. Operators generally ensure that no written materials, application forms, or public statements — whether issued directly or through a broker or agent — express or imply any preference or limitation based on the protected characteristics listed in the provision. Owners also avoid soliciting or accepting instructions from brokers that place any restriction on who may purchase or rent a property based on those same characteristics.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Pana Ch. 11 Human Relations § 11-53 gives individuals the right to be free from discrimination at every stage of a housing transaction, including advertising, application, lease terms, and access to financing. If a tenant or prospective buyer believes they have experienced conduct prohibited by this provision — such as being refused a rental, offered different terms, or exposed to discriminatory advertising — general enforcement paths may include filing a complaint with the local human relations authority or a relevant fair housing agency, or consulting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization. Documenting communications, advertisements, and interactions related to the housing transaction is a step that affected individuals commonly take when exploring their options under § 11-53.
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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