Owego, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 55 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 55-5
Discrimination in financing of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the Town of Owego 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 therefor for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling, or 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 in connection with 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 the section shall impair the scope of effectiveness of the exception contained in § 55-7 .
Section 55-5 of the Owego Code of Ordinances prohibits lenders — including banks, savings institutions, insurance companies, and similar financial enterprises — from denying or altering the terms of a real estate loan based on a borrower's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The prohibition also extends to discrimination based on the characteristics of people associated with the loan or the current and prospective residents of the property in question. An exception outlined in § 55-7 of the same chapter is preserved and not affected by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who work with lenders on financing for dwellings in the Town of Owego should be aware that § 55-5 prohibits financial institutions from applying discriminatory criteria when evaluating loan applications tied to those properties. Compliant lenders evaluate applications based on financial qualifications rather than the protected characteristics of borrowers, associates, or current and prospective occupants. Landlords who encounter lending decisions that appear to be influenced by such characteristics may have grounds to raise a concern under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 55-5 of the Owego 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 modifying a real estate loan related to that property. If a tenant believes that a lender has violated this provision in connection with financing for their dwelling, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local fair housing agency, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or consulting with an attorney familiar with fair housing law. The exception in § 55-7 may also be relevant depending on the circumstances.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation