Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 41-1491.16
Inspection of dwelling
Operative Text
A person may not represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin that a dwelling is not available for inspection for sale or rental if the dwelling is available for inspection.
Under A.R.S. § 41-1491.16, it is unlawful to tell someone that a dwelling is unavailable for inspection—whether for sale or rental—when it actually is available, if that misrepresentation is made because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. This rule targets a practice sometimes called "steering" or concealment, where protected characteristics are used as a basis for denying access to housing opportunities. The provision applies regardless of whether the dwelling is owner-occupied, managed by a landlord, or listed by an agent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under A.R.S. § 41-1491.16 generally maintain consistent, documented policies for scheduling and conducting inspections that apply equally to all prospective buyers or renters. Compliant operators avoid any practice—whether in written communications, verbal responses, or third-party instructions—that results in telling a prospective occupant a unit is unavailable when it is not, based on a protected characteristic. Keeping records of inspection requests and responses can help demonstrate that availability information was communicated uniformly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 41-1491.16 gives prospective renters and buyers a right not to be falsely told a dwelling is unavailable for inspection on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. If you believe you were denied the opportunity to inspect a dwelling for a discriminatory reason, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division or with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or consulting a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance on available options. Documenting communications—such as emails, texts, or notes from phone calls—about inspection availability may be useful when pursuing any of these paths.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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