Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-86
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. (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) Violations. It is unlawful 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.
Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-86 declares that any clause in a real estate agreement — whether spoken or written — that attempts to restrict the sale, transfer, mortgage, occupancy, or rental of property based on race, color, religion, or national origin is legally void and unenforceable. Conditions or deed restrictions that limit who may use or occupy property on those same grounds are likewise nullified. A narrow exception exists for religious institutions or affiliated charitable organizations that restrict use of property they hold for religious or charitable purposes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Rockford § 11-86, compliant property owners and managers ensure that no deed, lease, sale contract, or other real estate instrument they prepare or execute contains any clause restricting conveyance, occupancy, or use on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. Operators who discover such language in a chain of title generally refrain from referencing, honoring, or attempting to enforce it, as doing so is itself a violation of this section. Routine review of title documents and lease templates for discriminatory covenant language is a standard practice among operators seeking to remain in compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rockford § 11-86 gives tenants and prospective buyers the assurance that any restrictive covenant or agreement clause purporting to bar them from renting or purchasing property on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin has no legal force. If a tenant or applicant believes such a provision is being honored or enforced against them, they may raise the violation as a defense in a legal proceeding or file a complaint with a fair-housing or human-rights enforcement body. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand what documentation may be relevant and what general enforcement paths exist under this section.
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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