Summit — Ch. 7-13 Fair Housing § 7-13-5
Appeal Procedures
Operative Text
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Human Rights Commission made pursuant to this chapter shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the following procedures: First, initial reconsideration by the Human Rights Commission. This appeal shall be initiated by filing with the Administrator, within seven (7) calendar days of the decision, a written statement, under oath, setting forth specifically the grounds for reconsideration. These grounds shall be supported by argument and served on all parties at the time they are filed with the Administrator. The Human Rights Commission, after reviewing the statement shall: Render a revised decision notifying all parties within fourteen (14) calendar days of the filing of the statement for initial reconsideration; Issue and serve on all parties a written order for rehearing the case, citing the cause and additional evidence; or Uphold the decision. Second, appeal the Human Rights Commission decision to the President and Board of Trustees. The appeal shall be initiated within seven (7) calendar days of the initial decision or the upholding of the initial decision by filing with the Village Clerk a written statement as delineated in subsection (A) of this section. After reviewing the filed statement and reviewing the record, the President and Board of Trustees shall: Render a revised decision notifying all parties within thirty (30) calendar days of the filing of the appeal statement; Issue and serve on all parties a written order for rehearing the case, citing the cause and additional evidence; or Uphold the decision of the Human Rights Commission. The decision of the President and Board of Trustees on such appeals shall be final. After a decision by the President and Board of Trustees, the person aggrieved may apply to the courts for further adjudication of the issue but must do so, if at all, within sixty (60) days of the final decision of the President and Board of Trustees. (Ord. 17-O-11, 5-15-2017)
Summit's Fair Housing ordinance, § 7-13-5, establishes a two-stage internal appeal process for anyone who disagrees with a Human Rights Commission decision made under Chapter 7-13. The first stage involves requesting reconsideration by the Human Rights Commission itself, and the second stage involves appealing to the Village's President and Board of Trustees, whose ruling is considered final at the administrative level. After exhausting both stages, a dissatisfied party may seek further review in court, but only if that court action is filed within 60 days of the Board of Trustees' final decision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers subject to a Human Rights Commission ruling under § 7-13-5 should be aware that the appeal timeline is strict: a written, sworn statement must be filed with the Administrator within seven calendar days of the decision to initiate the first stage of reconsideration. If the Commission upholds its initial decision, a second appeal to the President and Board of Trustees must also be initiated within seven calendar days, this time by filing with the Village Clerk. Compliant operators generally track these deadlines carefully and ensure that all filings are served on all parties simultaneously, as required by the provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 7-13-5, tenants or other individuals aggrieved by a Human Rights Commission decision have a structured path to challenge that outcome, beginning with a request for reconsideration filed within seven calendar days and, if needed, a further appeal to the President and Board of Trustees. If administrative remedies are exhausted and the outcome remains unfavorable, the provision preserves the right to seek court review, though that window closes 60 days after the Board of Trustees' final decision. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Summit's fair housing process can help individuals understand what each stage of this appeal process generally involves.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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