Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 2.76 § 2.76.030
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this Chapter: 1. "Age" means the actual or supposed chronological age of an individual eighteen years or older. 2. "Bona fide occupational qualification" means a valid consideration of race, color, sex, age, religious creed, disability, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, relationship status, family structure, gender identity, marital status, family status, military status or source of income that is a requirement for employment and has been certified as such by the Cambridge Human Rights Commission (referred to in this Chapter as "the Commission") or by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination under Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws. 3. "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities, a record of having such impairment, or being regarded as having such impairment. 4. "Discrimination" means a policy or practice that by design or effect segregates, creates unequal status, separates or has a disproportionate impact on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religious creed, disability, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, relationship status, family structure, gender identity, marital status, family status, military status or source of income. 5. "Educational facility" means any person, whether organized for profit or not-for-profit, that holds itself out to the public as providing instruction in the arts, sciences, trades, or any other area of learning. 6. "Family structure" means a single person, or two persons, or a consensual non-monogamous or consensual multi-partner family structure which may include one or more parents, stepparents or legal guardians of a minor child or children and/or two or more consenting adults in a multi-partner and/or multi-parent family structure, including stepparents, multi-generational and/or other non-traditional families. 7. "Family status" means the actual or supposed condition of having minor children living with the individual or not. 8. "Gender identity" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth. 9. "Labor organization" means any association, regardless of its form of organization, or employees or persons involved in similar trades or industries for the purpose of collective bargaining, resolving grievances in the terms and conditions of employment, or any other mutual aid or protection. 10. "Marital status" means the actual or supposed state of being or having been married, separated or divorced, or not. 11. "Military status" means the actual or supposed condition of being or having been in the service of the military, or not. 12. "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint-stock companies, unincorporated organizations, fiduciaries, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, the City of Cambridge, and all political subdivisions, boards, and commissions thereof. 13. a. "Public accommodation" means any place or site, business or other establishment, or medium of communication, whether owned privately or by a public agency, that is intended for the patronage or use or convenience, whether for a charge or fee or not, of the general public, including but not limited to, inns, hotels, motels, roadhouses, trailer parks, campsites, any place where food or beverage is sold, retail stores, shopping malls, dispensaries, clinics, hospitals, rest homes, nursing homes, hospices, physicians' offices or other medical facilities, restrooms, bathhouses, parks, public grounds, gardens, theaters, lecture halls, newspapers and magazines and other publications, barber shops, beauty parlors, motion picture houses, music halls, bowling alleys, amusement parks and arcades, skating rinks, ball parks, billiard and pool parlors, recreation parks, fairs, golf courses, gymnasiums, health clubs, shooting galleries, art galleries, libraries, laundries, garages, all public conveyances whether owned privately or by a public agency, transportation terminals and stations, public portions of buildings accommodating the public, clubs, societies and social associations that are public or quasi-public banks, finance companies, insurance companies, streets and parking lots. b. Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be construed to include or apply to any place of accommodation that is by its nature distinctly private; provided, that where public use is permitted that use shall be covered by this Chapter and further provided, that an establishment that has membership requirements but otherwise qualifies as a public accommodation shall be deemed a public accommodation for the purpose of this Chapter if its membership requirements: (1) consist only of the payment of fees or dues; (2) consist of requirements under which a substantial portion of the residents of or visitors to the City could qualify; or (3) consist primarily of a discrimination or exclusion based upon race, color, sex, age, religious creed, disability, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, relationship status, family structure, gender identity, marital status, family status, military status or source of income. 14. "Real estate transaction" means any intercourse among any persons that involves a building, structure, or portion thereof, or parcel of land, developed or undeveloped, whether privately owned or owned by a public agency, including the design, construction, alteration, repair, sale, lease, sublease, mortgage, rental or other provision, term or offer of the same. 15. "Relationship status" means the actual or perceived involvement or lack thereof of an individual in an intimate personal relationship or relationships including, but not limited to, interpersonal relationships between two or more consenting adults that involve romantic physical or emotional intimacy. 16. "Religious creed" means the actual or supposed faith, belief, or moral philosophy of an individual or the lack thereof. 17. "Same sex" means occupying the same social and identity roles as another with respect to being male or female. 18. "Sexual orientation" means the actual or supposed heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality of an individual. 19. "Source of income" means public assistance recipiency. "Source of income" shall not include income derived from criminal activity.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 2.76 § 2.76.030 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's human rights chapter by defining key terms such as 'discrimination,' 'disability,' 'gender identity,' 'family structure,' 'source of income,' and others. Discrimination under this chapter covers both intentional policies and those that produce a disproportionate impact across a broad list of protected characteristics. These definitions set the scope for how the rest of the chapter's protections and obligations are interpreted and applied across housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 2.76 § 2.76.030, operators involved in real estate transactions should be familiar with the chapter's broad definitions, particularly 'discrimination,' which covers both intentional practices and those with disproportionate impact. Compliant operators generally apply these definitions consistently across all protected characteristics, including 'source of income,' 'family structure,' and 'military status.' Reviewing these definitions helps property owners understand the full scope of conduct the chapter governs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 2.76 § 2.76.030 defines the protected characteristics—such as 'family status,' 'relationship status,' 'gender identity,' and 'source of income'—that form the basis of rights throughout the chapter. Tenants who believe they have experienced unequal treatment in a real estate transaction may find that these definitions are relevant to whether a protected characteristic is implicated. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Cambridge Human Rights Commission or consulting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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