A. Any person who claims to have been injured by an unlawful housing practice may file a complaint with the administrator. A complaint may also be filed by the administrator if the administrator has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed an unlawful housing practice. A complaint must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after an alleged unlawful housing practice has occurred. Any complaint dismissed for insufficiency pursuant to this chapter may be amended and refiled at any time within filing deadline set forth in this subsection.
B. A complaint must be in writing on a form provided by the administrator, made under oath or affirmation, and contain the following information:
1. The complainant's name, address, and signature;
2. The date the alleged unlawful housing practice occurred;
3. A detailed statement of the facts upon which the allegation of an unlawful practice is based; and
4. The respondent's name and address.
C. After the filing of a complaint, the administrator shall review the complaint to determine sufficiency. A complaint shall be deemed sufficient if it alleges detailed facts that, if presumed to be true, would constitute a violation of this chapter. An insufficient complaint may be dismissed by the administrator. If upon review the complaint is deemed sufficient, the administrator shall promptly:
1. Provide the respondent named in the complaint written notice that a complaint alleging the commission of an unlawful housing practice has been filed against the respondent;
2. Furnish a copy of the complaint to the respondent; and
3. Advise the respondent of the respondent's procedural rights and obligations, including the right to file a written, signed, and verified informal answer to the complaint within fifteen (15) days after service of notice of the complaint.
D. Not later than the fifteenth day after service of the notice and copy of the complaint, a respondent may file an answer to the complaint. The answer must be in writing, made under oath or affirmation, and contain the following information:
1. The respondent's name, address, telephone number, and signature of the respondent or the respondent's attorney, if any; and
2. A concise statement of facts in response to the allegations in the complaint, including facts of any defense or exception.
(Ord. 2011-10, 3-15-2011)