Cal. Civ. Code § 955.3
Prohibition of Certain Real Estate Practices
Operative Text
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person to: (a) Induce, solicit or attempt to induce or solicit for commercial profit any listing, sale or transaction involving any housing accommodation or commercial property by representing that such housing accommodation or commercial property is within any neighborhood, community or area adjacent to any other area in which there reside, or do not reside, persons of a particular race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, or who are guide or support animal dependent. (b) Discourage, or attempt to discourage, for commercial profit, the purchase or lease of any housing accommodation or commercial property by representing that such housing accommodation or commercial property is within any neighborhood, community or area adjacent to any other area in which there reside, or may in the future reside in increased or decreased numbers, persons of a particular race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, or who are guide or support animal dependent. (c) Misrepresent, create or distort a circumstance, condition or incident for the purpose of fostering the impression or belief, on the part of any owner, occupant or prospective owner or occupant of any housing accommodation or commercial property, that such housing accommodation or commercial property is within any neighborhood, community or area adjacent to any other area which would be adversely impacted by the residence, or future increased or decreased residence, of persons of a particular race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, or who are guide or support animal dependent within such neighborhood, community or area. (d) In any way misrepresent or otherwise misadvertise within a neighborhood or community, whether or not in writing, that any housing accommodation or commercial property within such neighborhood or community is available for inspection, sale, lease, sublease or other transfer, in any context where such misrepresentation or misadvertising would have the effect of fostering an impression or belief that there has been or will be an increase in real estate activity within such neighborhood or community due to the residence, or anticipated increased or decreased residence, of persons of a particular race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, or the use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user.
Pennsylvania law under 43 P.S. § 955.3 prohibits a set of real estate practices collectively known as 'blockbusting' or 'panic peddling.' The provision makes it unlawful for any person to solicit listings, discourage purchases or leases, misrepresent neighborhood conditions, or falsely advertise property availability by invoking the actual or anticipated presence of people based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, age, ancestry, disability, or guide/support animal use. These prohibitions apply whether the conduct is written or verbal, and cover both residential and commercial property transactions. The law targets profit-driven manipulation of housing markets through demographic fear tactics.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Pennsylvania should be aware that 43 P.S. § 955.3 prohibits soliciting listings or transactions by referencing the demographic composition—real or anticipated—of a neighborhood. Compliant operators avoid any marketing language, sales pitches, or advertising that ties property availability or desirability to the race, religion, disability status, or other protected characteristics of area residents. Real estate professionals working on behalf of property owners are also subject to these rules, so operators generally ensure that agents and brokers they engage are trained on these prohibited practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 43 P.S. § 955.3, tenants and prospective buyers have the right to be free from manipulative tactics that use neighborhood demographics to pressure, discourage, or mislead them in housing decisions. If a real estate agent, landlord, or other party appears to be steering decisions by making representations about who does or may live in an area based on protected characteristics, that conduct may constitute an unlawful discriminatory practice under this provision. Individuals who believe they have experienced such conduct can explore filing a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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