For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a separate meaning.
CHARGES. Allegations contained in a complaint.
COMMISSION PANEL or PANEL. A panel, comprised of 3 or more members of the Commission, designated by the Chairperson of the Commission to hear complaints filed or made under § 90.08.
COMPLAINT. Document filed by a party/person with the Village Manager.
DIRECTOR. The Director of Community Development who shall act where designated as the agent for the Commission or as designated or empowered by this chapter.
DISABILITY. With respect to a person:
(1) A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits 1 or more of such person’s major life activities;
(2) A record of having such an impairment; or
(3) Being regarded as having such an impairment.
DISCRIMINATE. To extend differential treatment based on the actual or perceived status, practice or expression of a person’s race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status and parental status; or based on the actual or perceived association with such a person.
DWELLING. Any building, structure or portion of a structure which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by 1 or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location of any such building or structure.
FAMILY. Includes single individual.
GENDER IDENTITY. The actual or perceived appearance, expression, identity or behavior, of a person as being male or female, whether or not that appearance, expression, identity or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s designated sex at birth.
HOUSING STATUS. The type of housing or dwelling in which an individual resides, whether publicly or privately owned; an individual’s ownership status with respect to the individual’s residence; or the status of having or not having a fixed residence.
LEASE. Includes lease, sublease, lease renewal, assignment, or rental and includes any contract to do any of the foregoing.
LENDING INSTITUTION. Any bank, insurance company, savings and loan association or any other person in the business of lending money or guaranteeing loans, any person in the business of obtaining, arranging or negotiating loans or guarantees as agent or broker, and any person in the business of buying or selling loans or instruments for the payment of money which are secured by title to or a security interest in real estate.
MARITAL STATUS. The status of being single, married, divorced, separated or widowed.
MILITARY DISCHARGE STATUS. The fact of having been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, their Reserve components or any National Guard or Naval Militia.
NATIONAL ORIGIN. The place in which an individual or 1 of his or her ancestors was born.
OWNER. Any person who holds legal or equitable title to, or owns any beneficial interest in, any real property or who holds legal or equitable title to shares of, or holds any beneficial interest in, any real estate cooperative which owns any real property.
PANEL. See COMMISSION PANEL.
PANIC PEDDLING. Inducing the sale of homes because of implicit or explicit representation regarding the race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, material status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status or paternal status of residents or occupants of any block, neighborhood or area.
PARENTAL STATUS. The status of living with 1 or more dependent minors or disabled children.
PERSON. One or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, unincorporated organizations, trusts, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, fiduciaries or organizations of any kind.
PURCHASE. Includes any contract to purchase.
REAL ESTATE AGENT. Any real estate broker, any real estate salesperson and any other person who, as employee or agent or otherwise, engages in the sale, rental, management or operation of any real property. This definition includes “finders” who seek to locate and match buyers, sellers, lessors or lessees.
REAL ESTATE BROKER. Any person licensed as a real estate broker in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (or required thereby to be so licensed).
REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON. Any person licensed as a real estate salesperson in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (or required thereby to be so licensed).
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION. The purchase, sale, exchange, rental or lease of any real property, or an option to do any of the foregoing.
REAL PROPERTY. Any real estate, vacant land, building or structure within the Village limits.
REDLINING. Arbitrarily excluding certain areas in the lending of mortgage funds.
RELIGION. All aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, non-belief or the actual identification with or perceived identification with a religion.
SALE. Includes any contract to sell, exchange, or to convey, transfer or assign legal or equitable title to or a beneficial interest in real property.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION. The status or expression, whether actual or perceived, of heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality.
SOURCE OF INCOME. Any lawful income, subsidy or benefit with which an individual supports himself or herself and his or her dependents, including, but not limited to, child support, maintenance and any federal, state or local public assistance, medical assistance or rental assistance program, provided that:
(1) Nothing in this chapter prevents an owner or agent acting in good faith from taking into consideration factors other than lawful sources of income such as credit history, criminal history or references.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall require or prevent any person whose property fails to meet federal housing quality standards in connection with the federal Housing Choice Voucher (also known as Section 8) program (42 U.S.C. 1437f) to lease or rent a unit to a prospective tenant who is relying on such a subsidy, payment assistance contribution or voucher for payment of part or all of the rent for such unit.
(3) In addition, during such time as a landlord is waiting for an inspection or other agency response relative to a Section 8 participant’s application for rental of the landlord’s housing unit, this chapter shall not prohibit such landlord from choosing to rent such unit to another applicant who may or may not be a Section 8 participant.
STEERING. Directing prospective purchasers or renters into different dwelling units or areas because of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status or parental status so as to promote the continuance of segregated housing or to discourage integrated housing.
TO RENT. Includes to lease, sublease, to let and otherwise to grant for consideration the right to occupy premises not owned by the occupant.
UNLAWFUL REAL ESTATE PRACTICE. Any act which is unlawful under this chapter.
(1997 Code, § 43.04) (Ord. 78-3, passed 2-9-1978; Am. Ord. 83-17, passed 6-23-1983; Am. Ord. CO-09-10, passed 5-5-2009)