24 C.F.R. § 100.75
§ 100.75 Discriminatory advertisements, statements and notices. (24 CFR Part 100)
Operative Text
(a) It shall be unlawful to make, print or publish, or cause to be made, printed or published, any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling which indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. (b) The prohibitions in this section shall apply to all written or oral notices or statements by a person engaged in the sale or rental of a dwelling. Written notices and statements include any applications, flyers, brochures, deeds, signs, banners, posters, billboards or any documents used with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling. (c) Discriminatory notices, statements and advertisements include, but are not limited to: (1) Using words, phrases, photographs, illustrations, symbols or forms which convey that dwellings are available or not available to a particular group of persons because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (2) Expressing to agents, brokers, employees, prospective sellers or renters or any other persons a preference for or limitation on any purchaser or renter because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of such persons. (3) Selecting media or locations for advertising the sale or rental of dwellings which deny particular segments of the housing market information about housing opportunities because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (4) Refusing to publish advertising for the sale or rental of dwellings or requiring different charges or terms for such advertising because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (d) 24 CFR part 109 provides information to assist persons to advertise dwellings in a nondiscriminatory manner and describes the matters the Department will review in evaluating compliance with the Fair Housing Act and in investigating complaints alleging discriminatory housing practices involving advertising.
Under § 100.75, federal fair housing law prohibits any notice, statement, or advertisement related to the sale or rental of a dwelling from signaling a preference for—or exclusion of—people based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. This ban covers the full range of communications, from printed flyers and online listings to verbal statements made by anyone involved in a housing transaction. The rule also reaches indirect forms of bias, such as choosing advertising outlets in ways that systematically exclude certain groups from learning about available housing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 100.75 generally review all marketing materials—including signs, applications, social media posts, and verbal communications by staff or agents—to ensure no language, imagery, or placement could signal a preference or restriction tied to a protected class. Compliant operators also consider whether their choice of advertising channels reaches the full, diverse housing market rather than steering information toward or away from particular groups. Guidance on nondiscriminatory advertising practices is available through 24 CFR Part 109, which describes the standards HUD uses when evaluating compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 100.75 gives housing seekers the right to be free from discriminatory messaging at every stage of the rental or sale process, whether that bias appears in a listing, a sign, a verbal remark, or even in where an ad is—or is not—placed. If a notice or statement appears to signal that housing is unavailable to people of a particular protected class, that may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants or applicants who believe they have encountered such discriminatory advertising can file a complaint with HUD, raise the issue with a local fair housing agency, or consult a tenant-rights organization for information about available options.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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