Johnstown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 150 § 150-5
Discrimination in financing of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the City of Johnstown for any bank, building and loan association, insurance company, or other corporation, association, firm, or enterprise whose business consists in whole or in part in the making of commercial real estate loans to deny a loan or other financial assistance to a person applying thereto for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or to discriminate against him/her in the fixing of the amount, interest rate, duration, or other terms or conditions of such loan or other financial assistance because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of such person or of any person associated with him/her in connection with such loan or other financial assistance, or the purposes of such loan or other financial assistance, or of the present or prospective owners, lessees, tenants, or occupants of the dwelling or dwellings in relation to which such loan or other financial assistance is to be made or given; provided that nothing contained in this section shall impair the scope or effectiveness of the exception contained in § 150-7 .
Section 150-5 of Johnstown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 150 prohibits lenders — including banks, building and loan associations, insurance companies, and similar financial enterprises — from denying or discriminating in the terms of real estate loans based on a borrower's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The rule also bars discrimination based on the characteristics of people associated with the loan or the current and prospective occupants of the property involved. An exception referenced in § 150-7 of the same chapter is preserved and not affected by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners who seek financing for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining dwellings in Johnstown are protected under § 150-5 from discriminatory lending practices tied to protected characteristics. Operators who work with lenders or facilitate tenant financing arrangements should be aware that the ordinance covers not only the applicant but also persons associated with the transaction and the occupants of the property. Keeping records of financing terms and communications can help document whether treatment was consistent with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 150-5 of Johnstown's Code of Ordinances, tenants and prospective occupants of a dwelling are among the protected classes whose characteristics cannot lawfully be used as a basis for denying or altering the terms of a real estate loan related to that property. If a tenant believes a lender has violated this provision in connection with a dwelling they occupy or seek to occupy, they may consider filing a complaint with a local fair housing agency, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or reaching out to state or federal housing authorities. Consulting a housing counselor or legal aid organization can help clarify what options may be available under § 150-5 and related laws.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation