557.01 Designation of policy.
557.02 Definitions.
557.03 Unlawful housing practices.
557.04 Posting of notices.
557.05 Reports to be filed.
557.06 Fair Housing Board.
557.07 Procedures and enforcement.
557.08 Scope of chapter.
557.09 Other legal action.
CROSS REFERENCES
Fair housing - see Ohio R.C. Ch. 4112
Interfering with civil rights - see GEN. OFF. 525.13
It is hereby designated to be the continuing policy of the City to do all things necessary and proper to secure for all its residents their right to equal housing opportunities regardless of their race, color, creed, sex, marital status, religious belief, national origin, age or handicap.
(Ord. 29-84. Passed 6-5-84.)
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have these meanings:
(a) "Real estate agent" includes any real estate broker, real estate salesman or an agent thereof, or any other person, partnership, association or corporation who for consideration sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, negotiates, offers or attempts to negotiate the sale, purchase, exchange or rental of real property or holds himself out as engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, exchanging, renting or otherwise transferring any interest in real property.
(b) "Board" means the Fair Housing Board created by this chapter.
(c) "Discrimination," "discriminating" or "discriminate" means to render any difference in treatment to any person in the sale, lease, rental or financing of a dwelling or housing unit because of a person's race, color, creed, sex, marital status, religious belief, national origin, age or handicap.
(d) "Housing" includes any building, facility or structure or portion thereof which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more persons, groups or families and any vacant land offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of such building, facility or structure.
(e) "Lending institution" means any bank, insurance company, savings and loan association or any other person or organization regularly engaged in the business of lending money or guaranteeing loans.
(f) "Person" means one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organization, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers and fiduciaries. (Ord. 29-84. Passed 6-5-84.)
It shall be an unlawful housing practice and a violation of this chapter:
(a) For any person or real estate agent:
(1) To discriminate against any person in the selling, leasing, subleasing, renting, assigning or otherwise transferring of any interest in a housing unit.
(2) To discriminate against any person by refusing to negotiate, making false representations on the availability of the housing unit, or withdrawing from the market a housing unit which is for sale, lease, sublease or rental.
(3) To include in the terms, conditions or privileges of any sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of any housing, any clause, condition or restriction discriminating against any person in the use or occupancy of such housing.
(4) To discriminate in the furnishing of any facilities, repairs, improvements or services or in the terms, conditions, privileges or tenure of occupancy of any person.
(b) For any lending institution to discriminate in lending money, guaranteeing loans, accepting a deed of trust or mortgage or otherwise making available funds for the purchase, acquisition, construction, alteration, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing or discriminate in the fixing of the rates, terms, conditions or provisions of any such financial assistance.
(c) For any person or real estate agent, with respect to any prohibited act specified in this chapter, to publish or circulate or cause to be published or circulated, any notice, statement, listing or advertisement, or to announce a policy or to make any record in connection with the prospective sale, lease, sublease, rental or financing of any housing which indicates reliance, determination or decision based on race, color, creed, sex, marital status, age, religious belief, national origin or handicap.
(d) For any person or real estate agent to assist in, compel or coerce the doing of any act declared to be an unlawful housing practice under this chapter, or to obstruct or prevent enforcement or compliance with provisions of this chapter, or to attempt directly or indirectly to commit any act declared by this chapter to be an unlawful housing practice.
(e) For any person or real estate agent:
(1) To induce or attempt to induce the sale, transfer of interest or listing for sale of any housing by making representations regarding the existing or potential proximity of real property owned, used or occupied by any person of any particular race, color, creed religious belief, national origin or handicap by direct or indirect methods.
(2) To make any representations to a prospective purchaser or lessee that any housing in a particular block, neighborhood or area may undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a change with respect to racial, color, religious, nationality or ethnic composition of such block, neighborhood or area.
(3) To induce or attempt to induce the sale or listing for sale of any housing by representing the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, color, religious belief or national origin in the area will or may result in:
A. The lowering of property values.
B. A change in the racial, color, religious, nationality or ethnic composition of the block, neighborhood or area in which the property is located.
C. An increase in criminal or antisocial behavior in the area.
D. A decline in quality of the schools serving the area.
(f) For any person or real estate agent to cause or coerce or attempt to cause or coerce retaliation against any person because such person has lawfully opposed any act or failure to act that is a violation of this chapter or has, in good faith, filed a complaint, testified, participated or assisted in any way in any proceeding under this chapter.
(g) To deny any person access to or membership or participation in any multiple listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing or discriminate against a person in the terms or conditions of such access, membership or participation.
(h) To do any other thing or engage in conduct which would otherwise make unavailable equal housing opportunities.
(Ord. 29-84. Passed 6-5-84.)
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