§ 17-12. Discriminatory housing practices.

(a)

A person commits an offense if he, because of race, color, sex, religion, familial status, disability or national origin:

(1)

Refuses to negotiate with a person for the sale or rental of a housing accommodation or otherwise denies or makes unavailable a housing accommodation to a person;

(2)

Refuses to sell or rent, or otherwise makes unavailable, a housing accommodation to another person after the other person makes an offer to buy or rent the accommodation; or

(3)

Discriminates against a person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of, or in providing a service or facility in connection with, the sale or rental of a housing accommodation.

(b)

A person commits an offense if he, because of race, color, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin:

(1)

Represents to a person that a housing accommodation is not available for inspection, sale, or rental if the accommodation is available;

(2)

Discriminates against a prospective buyer or renter in connection with the showing of a housing accommodation; or

(3)

With respect to a multiple listing service, real estate brokers' organization, or other business relating to selling or renting housing accommodations:

a.

Denies a person access to or membership in the business; or

b.

Discriminates against a person in the terms or conditions of access to or membership in the business.

(c)

A person commits an offense if he:

(1)

For profit, induces or attempts to induce another person to sell or rent a housing accommodation by a representation that a person of a particular race, color, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin is in proximity to, is present in, or may enter into the neighborhood in which the housing accommodation is located;

(2)

Makes an oral or written statement indicating a preference or a policy of discrimination based race, color, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin in the selling or renting of a housing accommodation; or

(3)

Prints or publicizes or causes to be printed or publicized an advertisement that expresses a preference or policy of discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin in the selling or renting of a housing accommodation.

(d)

A person who engages in a residential real estate-related transaction commits an offense if he, because of race, color, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin, discriminates against a person:

(1)

In making a residential real estate-related transaction available; or

(2)

In the terms or conditions of a residential real estate-related transaction.

(e)

A person commits an offense if he:

(1)

Discriminates in the sale or rental of a housing accommodation to any buyer or renter because of a disability of:

a.

That buyer or renter;

b.

A person residing in or intending to reside in the housing accommodation after it is sold, rented, or made available; or

c.

Any person associated with that buyer or renter; or

(2)

Discriminates against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a housing accommodation, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the housing accommodation, because of a disability of:

a.

That person;

b.

A person residing in or intending to reside in the housing accommodation after it is sold, rented, or made available; or

c.

Any person associated with that person.

(f)

A person commits an offense if he:

(1)

Refuses to permit, at the expense of a person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person with a disability, if the modifications may be necessary to afford the person with a disability full use of the premises; except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where reasonable to do so, condition permission for modification on the renter's agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted;

(2)

Refuses to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when the accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a housing accommodation;

(3)

Fails to design or construct a covered multi-family dwelling for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, in such a manner as to have at least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site; or

(4)

Fails to design and construct a covered multi-family dwelling, for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, in such a manner that:

a.

The public use and common use portions of the dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by a person with a disability;

b.

All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the dwelling are sufficiently wide to allow passage by a person with a disability in a wheelchair; and

c.

All dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:

(i)

An accessible route into and through the dwelling unit;

(ii)

Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;

(iii)

Reinforcements in the bathroom walls to allow installation of grab bars; and

(iv)

Kitchens and bathrooms laid out in such a manner that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.

(g)

A person commits an offense if he coerces, intimidates, threatens, or otherwise interferes with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of that person having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of that person having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this chapter.

(h)

A person commits an offense if he retaliates against any person for making a complaint or testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in a proceeding under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 06-412, § 2(Exh. A), 4-26-06)