Peoria — Ch. 17 Human Relations, Housing and Employment § 17-36
Penalties and other remedies of the commission
Operative Text
(a) If a respondent has been found guilty of a violation of articles II and III of this chapter in accordance with the procedures specified in section 17-34 , the determination of the nature and extent of the penalty shall be vested in the entire commission considering any recommendations of the hearing board. (b) The fair employment commission shall have the power to impose a penalty upon any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of articles II and III of this chapter in an amount no less than $100.00 nor more than as provided in section 1-5 of this Code for each such offense. Any penalty imposed by the commission pursuant to this subsection shall be based upon the evidence presented at a hearing pursuant to section 17-34 and upon a specific finding of such violation. The commission may order a respondent found guilty of a violation of articles II and III of this chapter to pay all or a portion of the legal costs incurred by the complainant as a result of prosecution of such violations; including reasonable attorney fees, transcription fees, and expert witness fees. (1) The commission shall have the power to enter an order directing the respondent to cease and desist from unlawful discrimination and to take such action as necessary to make the individual complainant whole, and to report back to the commission as to the manner of compliance. The fair employment commission shall retain jurisdiction of the case until it is satisfied that the respondent has complied with its order. (c) Any person who fails to comply with an order issued by the fair employment commission as provided in this article shall, upon conviction in circuit court thereof, be assessed a penalty of not less than $100.00 nor more than as provided in section 1-5 of this Code for each such offense. The offense defined by this subsection is separate and distinct and in addition to any penalties provided for and imposed pursuant to any other subsections of this section. (d) Any decision of the fair employment commission may be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction within 35 days from the date the decision is entered.
Section 17-36 of Peoria's Chapter 17 establishes the range of penalties and remedies available when someone is found to have violated the city's human relations rules covering housing and employment. The Fair Employment Commission holds authority to impose fines starting at $100 per offense, up to the ceiling set by the city's general penalty provision in section 1-5, and can also order a violator to stop discriminatory conduct, make the affected party whole, and cover the complainant's legal costs including attorney fees. A separate, additional penalty of the same range applies if a respondent fails to comply with a commission order, and any commission decision may be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction within 35 days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 17-36, property owners and managers who are found in violation of Peoria's housing discrimination provisions face fines of at least $100 per offense, with the upper limit tied to section 1-5 of the city code, as determined by the full Fair Employment Commission. Compliant operators generally respond promptly to any commission orders, take corrective action to remedy harm to a complainant, and avoid the additional layer of penalties that attach when a respondent ignores or defies a commission directive. Operators should also be aware that the commission retains jurisdiction over a case until it is satisfied that its order has been fully carried out.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 17-36 gives the Peoria Fair Employment Commission the authority to award meaningful relief to complainants, including orders requiring a respondent to stop discriminatory conduct, to make the complainant whole, and to pay reasonable attorney fees, transcription fees, and expert witness costs. Tenants who believe their rights under articles II and III of Chapter 17 have been violated may pursue a complaint through the commission's hearing process outlined in section 17-34, and if a respondent fails to comply with any resulting order, that non-compliance triggers a separate set of penalties. Those who receive an unfavorable commission decision also have the right to appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction within 35 days, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what options are generally available under this provision.
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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