(a) Nothing in this article shall prohibit a generally recognized religious organization, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a generally recognized religious organization, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of dwellings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on the basis of race or color, national origin, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18) and handicap. Nor shall anything in this article prohibit a private club, not in fact open to the public, which is incidental to its primary purpose, from providing lodgings which it owns or operated for other than a commercial purpose, from limiting the rental or occupancy of such lodgings to its members, or from giving preference to its members, provided membership in such club is not restricted on account of race or color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18) and handicap.
(b) Single-family houses sold or rented by an owner shall be exempt from the conditions of this article, provided that the owner does not own more than three such single-family houses at any one time, and provided that the owner does not own any interest in the sale or rental of any additional houses. Provided further, that in the case of the sale of any such house by an owner not residing in the house, or who was not the most recent resident of the house, the exemption shall apply only to one such sale within any 24-month period; provided further, that the sale or rental is made without the use in any manner of the facilities of any real estate broker, agent or salesperson or any person in the business of selling or renting dwellings.
(c) Rooms or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four families living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of the living quarters as his or her residence.
(Prior Code, § 8-907) (Ord. 1238, passed 8-12-1991)