Salem — Ch. 13 Art. V Housing Discrimination § 13-102
Definitions
Operative Text
Unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section and as used in this article: Decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters means housing which is in sound, clean, and weathertight condition in conformance with applicable local, state and national codes. Discriminate or discrimination means any difference expressed in any way toward a person or persons in the terms of the sale, exchange, lease, rental or financing for housing accommodations and/or real property in regard to such sale, exchange, rental, lease or finance because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or physical or mental handicap of such person. Financial institution means any person, institution or business entity of any kind which loans money to persons and receives as security for such loans a secured interest of any kind in the real property of the borrower. Housing accommodation means and includes any building, structure, or portion thereof which is used or occupied, maintained, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as a home, residence or sleeping place of one (1) or more humans, or any real estate so used, designed or intended for such use. Owner means any person/persons who hold legal or equitable title to, or own any beneficial interest in any real property or who hold legal or equitable title to shares of, or hold any beneficial interest in any real estate cooperative which owns any real property and/or housing accommodations. Real property means any real estate, vacant land, building, structure, or housing accommodations within the corporate limits of the city. Real estate broker means any person, partnership, association, corporation and/or agent thereof, who for a fee or other valuable consideration offers, sells, purchases, exchanges or rents, or negotiates for the sale, purchase, exchange or rental of a housing accommodation and/or real property of another, or collects rental for the use of a housing accommodation and/or real property of another.
Salem Ch. 13 Art. V § 13-102 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the city's housing discrimination article. It defines key terms — including 'discrimination,' 'housing accommodation,' 'owner,' 'real property,' 'financial institution,' and 'real estate broker' — so that the article's protections and prohibitions apply consistently. Under this section, discrimination covers differences in treatment related to the sale, rental, lease, exchange, or financing of housing based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, national origin, and physical or mental handicap. These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for all other provisions in the article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating within Salem should be familiar with the definitions established in § 13-102, as these terms govern how the rest of Ch. 13 Art. V applies to their activities. The definition of 'owner' is broad, encompassing those who hold legal or equitable title as well as beneficial interests, including interests in cooperative structures. Compliant operators generally ensure that their practices in renting, leasing, or selling housing accommodations — as defined in this section — do not reflect any difference in treatment based on the protected characteristics enumerated here.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 13-102 of Salem's Ch. 13 Art. V defines the scope of who and what is protected under the city's housing discrimination article, including what counts as a 'housing accommodation' and what constitutes 'discrimination.' Tenants who believe they have experienced unequal treatment in renting or leasing based on race, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, creed, or physical or mental handicap may find that these definitions are directly relevant to their situation. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with a local civil rights or housing authority, raising a violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Salem's ordinances.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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