Grand Rapids — Ch. 176 Human Rights § 9.961
Nondiscrimination by City Contractors
Operative Text
1. All contractors proposing to do business with the City shall satisfy Section 1.517 of City Code, this Chapter, and any policies based thereon as adopted by the City. 2. A contractor shall, as a condition of being deemed a responsible bidder, at the time of its submission to the City in responding to an invitation to bid or request for proposal, certify in writing that it is in compliance with the provisions of Section 1.517 , this Chapter, and any applicable policies. 3. Each City contract shall provide that a breach of the obligation not to discriminate shall be considered a material breach of the contract.
Grand Rapids Ch. 176 § 9.961 establishes that any contractor seeking to do business with the City of Grand Rapids must comply with the City's nondiscrimination requirements, including those set out in Section 1.517 and Chapter 176. Contractors must certify their compliance in writing at the time they submit a bid or proposal. If a contractor violates the nondiscrimination obligation, that violation is treated as a material breach of the contract itself—not merely a procedural infraction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who operate as City contractors or who bid on City contracts should be aware that § 9.961 requires written certification of nondiscrimination compliance at the bid or proposal stage. Compliant operators typically review Section 1.517 and Chapter 176 before submitting any bid, ensure their internal policies align with those provisions, and maintain documentation of that compliance. Because a violation is deemed a material breach under this section, operators generally treat nondiscrimination obligations as a core contractual requirement rather than a secondary consideration.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who believe a City contractor has engaged in discriminatory conduct may find that § 9.961 provides a meaningful avenue for recourse, since a breach of the nondiscrimination obligation constitutes a material breach of the contractor's agreement with the City. This means the City itself has a contractual basis to act against a non-compliant contractor. Tenants experiencing discrimination by a City contractor may consider contacting the Grand Rapids Human Rights Commission, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether a complaint can be filed under Chapter 176 and Section 1.517.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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