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§ 96.01  POLICY STATEMENT.
   It shall be the policy of the town to provide, within constitutional limitation, for fair housing throughout its corporate limits as provided for under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, the federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and IC 22-9.5-1 et seq.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.02  DEFINITIONS.
   For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   AGGRIEVED PERSON.  Includes any person who:
      (1)   Claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice; or
      (2)   Believes that such person will be injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur.
(IC 22-9.5-2-2)
   COMMISSION.  The Indiana Civil Rights Commission created pursuant to IC 22-9-1-4 et seq.  (IC 22-9.5-2-3)
   COMPLAINANT.  A person, including the Commission, who files a complaint under IC 22-9.5-6.  (IC 22-9.5-2-4)
   DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICE.  An act that is unlawful under §§ 96.04 through 96.08 of this chapter or IC 22-9.5-5.
   DWELLING.  Any building, structure, or part of a building or structure that is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families; or any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location of a building, structure, or part of a building or structure that is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as a residence by one or more families. (IC 22-9.5-2-8).
   FAMILY.  Includes a single individual (IC 22-9.5-2-9), with the status of such family being further defined in FAMILIAL STATUS below.
   FAMILIAL STATUS.  One or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with a parent or another person having legal custody of that individual or the written permission of that parent or other person. The protection afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.
   HANDICAP.
      (1)   Means, with respect to a person:
         (a)   A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of that person's major life activities;
         (b)   A record of having such an impairment; or
         (c)   Being regarded as having such an impairment;
         (d)   An impairment described or defined pursuant to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
         (e)   Any other impairment defined under IC 22-9.5-2-10.
      (2)   The term HANDICAP shall not include current illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance as defined in Section 802 of Title 21 of the United States Code, (IC 22-9.5-2-10(b)); nor does the term include an individual solely because that individual is a transvestite. (IC 22-9.5-2-10(c))
   PERSON.  Includes one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint-stock companies, trusts, non-incorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in cases under Title 11 of the United States Code, receivers, and fiduciaries.  (IC 22-9.5-2-11)
   TO RENT.  Includes to lease, to sublease, to let and otherwise to grant for a consideration the right to occupy the premises owned by the occupant.  (IC 22-9.5-2-13)
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
Editor’s note:
   IC 22-9.5-2-10 (definition of “handicap”) was repealed by P.L. 99-2007, Sec. 224.
§ 96.03  UNLAWFUL PRACTICE.
   Subject to the provisions of division (B) below, § 96.09 of this chapter and IC 22-9.5-3, the prohibitions against discrimination in the sale or rental of housing set forth in IC 22-9.5-5-1 and in § 96.04 of this chapter shall apply to:
   (A)   All dwellings except as exempted by division (B) and IC 22-9.5-3.
   (B)   Other than the provisions of division (C) of this section, nothing in § 96.04 shall apply to:
      (1)   Any single-family house sold or rented by an owner where the private individual owner does not own more than three such single-family houses at any one time; provided that in the sale of such single-family house by a private individual owner not residing in the house at the time of sale or who was not the most recent resident of  that house  prior to the sale, the exemption shall apply only to one such sale within any 24-month period. The private individual owner may not own any interest in, nor have owned or reserved on that owner's behalf, title to or any right to all or a portion of the proceeds from the sale or rental of more than three such single-family houses at any one time. The sale or rental of any such single-family house shall be excepted from application of this section only if that house is sold or rented:
         (a)   Without the use in any manner of the sales or rental facilities or services of any real estate broker, agent or salesman, or any person in the business of selling or renting dwellings, or of any employee or agent of any such broker, agent or salesman, or person; and
         (b)   Without the publication, posting or mailing, after notice of advertisement or written notice in violation of § 96.04(C) of this chapter, but nothing in this proviso shall prohibit the use of attorneys, escrow agents, abstracters, title companies and other such professional assistance as necessary to perfect or transfer this title; or
   (2)   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 those living quarters as that owner's residence.
   (C)   For the purposes of division (B), a person shall be deemed to be in the business of selling or renting dwellings if that person:
      (1)   Has, within the preceding 12 months, participated as principal in three or more transactions involving the sale or rental of any dwelling or any interest therein; or
      (2)   Has, within the preceding 12 months, participated as agent, other than in the sale of that person's own personal residence, in providing sales or rental facilities or services in two or more transactions involving the sale or rental of any dwelling or any interest therein; or
      (3)   Is the owner of any dwelling unit designed or intended for occupancy by, or occupied by, five or more families.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.04  DISCRIMINATION IN THE SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING.
   As made applicable by § 96.03 and except as exempted by §§ 96.03(B) and 96.09, it shall be unlawful:
   (A)   To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin.
   (B)   To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin.
   (C)   To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
   (D)   To represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.
   (E)   For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
   (F)   (1)   To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of:
         (a)   That buyer or renter;
         (b)   A person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or
         (c)   Any person associated with that person.
      (2)   To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling, because of a handicap of:
         (a)   That person; or
         (b)   A person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or
         (c)   Any person associated with that person.
      (3)   For purposes of this subsection, discrimination includes:
         (a)   A refusal to permit, at the expense of the handicapped person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford that person full enjoyment of the premises except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may where it is reasonable to do so condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and use excepted;
         (b)   A refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford the affected person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; or
         (c)   In connection with the design and construction of covered multi-family dwellings for first occupancy after the date that is 30 months after March 13, 1991, a failure to design and construct those dwellings in such a manner that:
            1.   The public use and common use portions of those dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons;
            2.   All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within those dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by handicapped persons in wheelchairs; and
            3.   All premises within those dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:
               a.   An accessible route into and through the dwelling:
               b.    Light, switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
               c.    Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
               d.    Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
      (4)   Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and of the American National Standard for buildings and facilities providing accessibility and usability for physically handicapped people (commonly cited as “ANSI A117.1”) suffices to satisfy the requirements of division (3)(c)3. above.
      (5)   Nothing in this division requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.05  DISCRIMINATION IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
   (A)   It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
   (B)   As used in this section, the term “residential real estate related transaction” means any of the following:
      (1)   The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:
         (a)   For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or
         (b)   Secured by residential real estate.
      (2)   The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.
   (C)   Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.06  DISCRIMINATION IN THE PROVISION OF BROKERAGE SERVICE.
   It shall be unlawful 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 dwellings, or to discriminate against such a person in the terms or conditions of such access, membership, or participation, on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.07  INTERFERENCE, COERCION, OR INTIMIDATION.
   It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere 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 §§ 96.03 through 96.06 of this chapter.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
§ 96.08  PREVENTION OF INTIMIDATION IN FAIR HOUSING CASES.
   Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with:
   (A)   Any person because of that person's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin and because that person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchasing, renting, financing or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or
   (B)   Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate that person or any other person or any class of persons from:
      (1)   Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in division (A) above; or
      (2)   Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or
   (C)   Any citizen because that citizen is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in division (A) above, or participation lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate shall be fined not more than $1,000, and if bodily injury or death results shall be fined not more than $2,500.
(Ord. 1993-1, passed 2-22-93)
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