Fair Housing Act

This act governs discrimination in housing, covering the sale and rental of dwellings, advertising and inspection practices, conduct aimed at people entering a neighborhood, brokerage services, and residential real estate related transactions such as lending and appraisal, with specific treatment of disability and exemptions for certain private sales and rentals, religious organizations and private clubs, and housing for the elderly. It assigns enforcement to a designated authority that takes complaints, investigates, attempts conciliation, may seek temporary or preliminary relief, and issues a reasonable cause determination and a formal charge. A charged case is resolved through an administrative hearing carrying penalties and remedial orders unless a party elects judicial determination instead, and the act separately empowers the attorney general to enforce orders, compel subpoenas, and bring pattern or practice actions, while preserving a private civil action for relief.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.