Cal. Civ. Code § 36-96.20
Additional powers of the Real Estate Board; action on real estate licenses.
Operative Text
A. In any case in which the Board has received or initiated a complaint and conducted an investigation of any violation of this chapter and determined that there exists reasonable cause to believe that a real estate broker, real estate salesperson, real estate brokerage firm licensed in accordance with Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.), or their agents or employees have engaged in discriminatory housing practices prohibited by the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq.) or Chapter 5 (§ 6.2-500 et seq.) of Title 6.2, the Board shall immediately attempt to resolve the matter by conference and conciliation, and upon failure to resolve the matter in such manner, may initiate an administrative hearing to determine whether to revoke, suspend or fail to renew the license or licenses in question. Not less than 10 days prior to the initial conference hereunder, the Board shall prepare and deliver to the respondent or respondents a written report setting forth the scope, findings and conclusions of the investigation conducted under this section. B. If any person operating under a real estate license issued by the Board, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1, is found by a court to have violated any provision of this chapter and this fact is so certified to the Board, the Board, after notification to the licensee, shall take appropriate action to consider suspension or revocation of the license of the licensee.
Virginia Code § 36-96.20 establishes a process by which the Virginia Real Estate Board can act against the licenses of real estate brokers, salespersons, and brokerage firms found to have engaged in discriminatory housing practices. When the Board identifies reasonable cause to believe a violation of the Virginia Fair Housing Law or related credit provisions has occurred, it must first attempt to resolve the matter through conference and conciliation before pursuing an administrative hearing. If a court separately finds that a licensee violated the Fair Housing Law, the Board is required to consider suspension or revocation of that license after notifying the licensee.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Real estate brokers, salespersons, and brokerage firms operating under Virginia Real Estate Board licenses should be aware that under Va. Code § 36-96.20, discriminatory housing practices can trigger a formal Board investigation and a mandatory conciliation process. If conciliation fails, the Board may hold an administrative hearing to determine whether to revoke, suspend, or decline to renew the relevant license. Compliant operators generally maintain documented fair-housing training, consistent non-discriminatory policies, and clear records of all transactions to demonstrate adherence to the Virginia Fair Housing Law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Va. Code § 36-96.20, tenants and housing applicants who believe a licensed real estate professional has engaged in discriminatory practices have a pathway through the Virginia Real Estate Board, which is empowered to investigate complaints and pursue license revocation or suspension. The Board is required to deliver a written investigation report to the respondent at least 10 days before any initial conference, providing a degree of procedural transparency in the process. Those who believe their fair-housing rights have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the Board, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring other remedies available under the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq.).
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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