| (a) It is unlawful to discriminate based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status by restricting or attempting to restrict the choices of a person by word or conduct in connection with seeking, negotiating for, buying, or renting a dwelling so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct choices in a community, neighborhood, or development. Prohibited practices under this section generally refer to unlawful steering practices that include, but are not limited to, discrimination by: (1) discouraging any person from inspecting, purchasing, or renting a dwelling based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status in a community, neighborhood, or development; (2) discouraging the purchase or rental of a dwelling based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status by exaggerating drawbacks or failing to inform any person of desirable features of a dwelling or of a community, neighborhood, or development; (3) communicating to a potential buyer or renter that he or she would not be comfortable or compatible with existing residents of a community, neighborhood, or development based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status; and (4) assigning any person to a particular section of a community, neighborhood, or development or to a particular floor of a building based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status. (b) It is unlawful to discriminate based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status by engaging in any conduct relating to the provision of housing or of services and facilities in connection therewith that otherwise makes unavailable or denies dwellings to individuals. Prohibited sales and rental practices under this section include, but are not limited to, discrimination by: (1) discharging or taking other adverse action against an employee, broker, or agent because he or she refused to participate in a discriminatory housing practice; (2) employing codes or other devices to segregate or reject potential buyers or renters; refusing to take or to show listings of dwellings in certain areas based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status; or refusing to deal with certain brokers or agents because they or one or more of their clients are of a particular race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status; (3) denying or delaying the processing of an application made by a potential buyer or renter or refusing to approve such a person for occupancy in a cooperative or condominium dwelling based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status; and (4) refusing to provide municipal services or property or hazard insurance for dwellings or providing such services or insurance differently based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status. |
