Cal. Civ. Code § 959.3
Civil Penalties
Operative Text
The Commission shall have the power to adopt a schedule of civil penalties for violation of section 5(h)(5) by the advertiser and the publisher in instances where the complainant does not take action to secure housing accommodations or financing and is not denied housing accommodations or financing based on the alleged discriminatory language in the advertisement. The schedule of penalties, guidelines for their imposition and procedures for appeal shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, provided that the Commission shall, within two (2) years of such publication, promulgate a regulation setting forth the schedule of penalties, guidelines and procedures. Any such penalty shall not exceed the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00). Duly authorized agents of the Commission shall have the power and authority to issue citations and impose penalties for any such violations. Any such penalty imposed may be appealed to the Commission pursuant to regulations promulgated under this act. All proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and procedure).
Under 43 P.S. § 959.3, Pennsylvania's Human Relations Commission is authorized to establish a schedule of civil penalties targeting advertisers and publishers who use discriminatory language in housing or financing advertisements. These penalties apply in cases where the person who complained did not actually attempt to secure housing or financing and was not denied it as a result of the discriminatory ad. The maximum civil penalty that may be imposed under this provision is $500, and any penalty issued can be appealed to the Commission following established administrative procedures.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who advertise housing accommodations should be aware that under 43 P.S. § 959.3, both the advertiser and the publisher of a discriminatory housing advertisement can face civil penalties of up to $500 per violation, even when no prospective tenant was directly harmed by the ad. Compliant operators generally review all advertising content to ensure it does not contain language that could be characterized as discriminatory under Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act. Penalties issued by authorized Commission agents may be contested through the Commission's appeal process as outlined in the regulations promulgated under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 43 P.S. § 959.3, Pennsylvania law recognizes that discriminatory advertising itself is a violation, meaning a complaint can be filed even if you did not personally attempt to rent or finance housing and were not directly denied it. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has the authority to investigate such complaints and impose civil penalties on advertisers and publishers who use discriminatory language. If you believe you have encountered a discriminatory housing advertisement, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with state fair housing law.
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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