Hornell, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-1
Findings; declaration of policy
Operative Text
The Hornell City Council hereby finds and declares that acts of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination which deny a person the opportunity to sell, purchase, lease, rent or to obtain financing for the purchase or lease of unimproved land or housing accommodations because of race, creed, color, sex, marital status, physical disability or national origin undermines the foundations of a free democratic community. The City Council declares it to be the public policy of the City of Hornell to eliminate and prevent such discrimination and to safeguard the right of every person to sell, purchase, lease or rent or to obtain financing for the purchase or lease of unimproved land or housing accommodations without regard to race, creed, color, sex, marital status, physical disability or national origin. This chapter is adopted in order to supplement the federal and state laws pertaining to fair housing.
Section 176-1 of Hornell's Code of Ordinances establishes the city's foundational fair-housing policy, declaring that discrimination in the sale, purchase, lease, rental, or financing of land or housing based on race, creed, color, sex, marital status, physical disability, or national origin is harmful to the community. The provision affirms that every person has the right to access housing and related financing free from such discrimination. Chapter 176 is designed to work alongside existing federal and state fair-housing laws, not to replace them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under the policy statement in § 176-1, property owners and managers operating in Hornell are expected to conduct all aspects of selling, leasing, and financing housing without regard to a prospective buyer's or tenant's race, creed, color, sex, marital status, physical disability, or national origin. Compliant operators typically apply consistent screening criteria, advertise openly, and ensure that financing referrals or arrangements do not vary based on any of the protected characteristics named in Chapter 176. Because this chapter supplements federal and state fair-housing law, obligations under those broader frameworks apply alongside Hornell's local policy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 176-1 affirms that residents of Hornell have a protected right to seek housing and financing without facing discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, marital status, physical disability, or national origin. If a tenant or prospective tenant believes this policy has been violated, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local or state fair-housing agency, raising the violation under the broader protections of state or federal fair-housing law, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Chapter 176 and its interplay with those laws. Because § 176-1 is a policy declaration that supplements existing law, the remedies available may also extend through state and federal channels.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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