6 Del. C. ch. 46 § 4601
Declaration of purpose and construction
Operative Text
(a) Purpose. — This chapter is intended to eliminate, as to housing offered to the public for sale, rent or exchange, discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, marital status, familial status, source of income, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military status, or housing status and to provide an administrative procedure through which disputes concerning the same may effectively and expeditiously be resolved with fairness and due process for all parties concerned. (b) Construction. — This chapter shall be liberally construed to the end that its purposes may be accomplished and all persons may fully enjoy equal rights and access to housing for themselves and their families. Furthermore, in defining the scope or extent of any duty imposed by this chapter, including the duty of reasonable accommodation, higher or more comprehensive obligations established by otherwise applicable federal, state, or local enactments may be considered.
Section 4601 of Delaware's Fair Housing Act (6 Del. C. ch. 46) establishes the foundational purpose of the state's fair housing law: to prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, or exchange of housing on the basis of characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, source of income, and several other protected categories. The law also creates an administrative process designed to resolve fair housing disputes efficiently and fairly. Courts and agencies are directed to read the chapter broadly so that its anti-discrimination goals are fully realized, and they may look to federal, state, or local law when determining the scope of duties like reasonable accommodation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 6 Del. C. ch. 46 § 4601, property owners and managers operating in Delaware are subject to a law that is explicitly designed to be interpreted broadly in favor of equal housing access. Compliant operators generally ensure their policies, advertising, and tenant-selection criteria do not treat applicants differently based on any of the protected characteristics the chapter covers. Because § 4601 allows consideration of federal, state, and local standards when defining duties such as reasonable accommodation, operators typically review obligations under all applicable layers of law rather than relying on a single source.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4601 of 6 Del. C. ch. 46 signals that Delaware's fair housing protections are meant to be read expansively, which can be relevant when a tenant believes a landlord's conduct falls within the law's reach even if the specific situation is not spelled out in detail. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination based on a protected characteristic may file a complaint through the administrative process the chapter establishes, or they may consult a tenant-rights organization to understand available options. Because § 4601 also allows consideration of federal and local fair housing standards, a tenant's rights may extend beyond what any single law explicitly states on its face.
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 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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