Volo — Title 6 Ch. 5 Discrimination in Housing § 6-5-3
Prohibited acts
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for any owner of real estate, lessee, sublessee, 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, physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military 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 Village: A. 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 Village or in furnishing of any facilities or services in connection therewith. B. 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, ancestry, sex, creed or physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military of any person. C. 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. D. To solicit for sale or 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, ancestry, sex, creed, or physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military. E. 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, ancestry, sex, creed, or physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military of persons in the neighborhood. F. 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, ancestry, sex, creed, or physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military 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. G. 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, ancestry, sex, creed, physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military. H. 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, physical or mental handicap, age, marital status, military status, familial status, sexual orientation and unfavorable discharge from the military of the proposed buyer or tenant.
Volo — Title 6 Ch. 5 § 6-5-3 makes it unlawful for a broad range of housing actors — including property owners, lessees, brokers, financial institutions, and advertisers — to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, and military discharge status, among others. The provision also specifically prohibits blockbusting practices, discriminatory advertising, and steering — tactics designed to exploit or manufacture fear about neighborhood demographic change. These protections apply to every stage of a housing transaction, from advertising and application through financing and occupancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Volo — Title 6 Ch. 5 § 6-5-3, compliant property owners and managers apply consistent, non-discriminatory criteria across all aspects of housing transactions, including advertising, tenant screening, lease terms, and the provision of facilities and services. Owners are also prohibited from instructing brokers or agents to limit dealings based on any of the protected characteristics listed in the provision. Maintaining uniform written policies and training staff on fair housing obligations are practices generally associated with compliance with this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Volo — Title 6 Ch. 5 § 6-5-3 establishes broad protections for housing applicants and tenants against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, military discharge status, and other listed characteristics. If a tenant or applicant believes they have experienced discriminatory treatment in advertising, application, lease terms, or access to services, they may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision through a complaint process or as a defense in a housing proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing agencies can help individuals understand what documentation and options may be available 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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