§ 2331.02. Fair housing.

(A)

It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person to recklessly:

(1)

Refuse to sell, transfer, assign, rent, lease, sublease, finance or otherwise deny or withhold housing accommodations from any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of any prospective owner, occupant, or user of such housing accommodations;

(2)

Represent to any person that housing accommodations are not available for inspection when in fact they are so available;

(3)

Refuse to lend money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of housing accommodations or otherwise withhold financing of housing accommodations from any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of any present or prospective owner, occupant, or user of such housing accommodations, provided such person, whether an individual, corporation, or association of any type, lends money as one of the principal aspects of their business or incidental to their principal business and not only as apart of the purchase price of an owner occupied residence they are selling nor merely casually or occasionally to a relative or friend;

(4)

Discriminate against any person in the terms or conditions of selling, transferring, assigning, renting, leasing or, subleasing any housing accommodations or in furnishing facilities, services, or privileges in connection with the ownership, occupancy or use of any housing accommodations because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of any present or prospective owner, occupant, or user of such housing accommodations;

(5)

Discriminate against any person in the terms or conditions of any loan of money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing accommodations because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of any present or prospective owner, occupant, or user of such housing accommodations;

(6)

Print, publish, or circulate any statement or advertisement relating to the sale, transfer, assignment, rental, lease, sublease, or acquisition of any housing accommodations or the loan of money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of housing accommodations which indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based upon the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status;

(7)

Make any inquiry, elicit any information, make or keep any record, or use any form of application containing questions or entries concerning the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status in connection with the sale or lease of any housing accommodations or the loan of any money, whether or not secured by a mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of housing accommodations.

(8)

Include in any deed, land contract, or lease of accommodations any covenant, honor or exercise, or attempt to honor or exercise, any covenant, that would prohibit, restrict, or limit the sale, transfer, assignment, rental, lease, sublease, or finance of housing accommodations to or for any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of any prospective owner, occupant, or user of such housing accommodations provided that prior inclusion of a restrictive covenant in the chain of title shall not be deemed a violation of this provision;

(9)

Induce or solicit, or attempt to induce or solicit, any housing accommodations listing, sale, or transaction by representing that a change has occurred or may occur in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the property is located, which change is related to the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status.

(10)

Induce or solicit or attempt to induce or solicit, any housing accommodations listing, sale, or transaction by representing that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status in the area will or may have results such as the following:

(a)

The lowering of property values;

(b)

An increase in criminal or antisocial behavior in the area; or

(c)

A decline in the quality of schools serving the area;

(11)

Discourage or attempt to discourage the purchase by prospective purchasers of any housing accommodations by representing that any block, neighborhood, or area has or might undergo a change with respect to the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status of the residents;

(12)

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 housing accommodations, or to discriminate against them in the terms or conditions of such access, membership, or participation, on account of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status.

(13)

Coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of their having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of their having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this section;

(14)

Whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:

(a)

Any person because of their race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status and because that person is or has been selling purchasing, renting, financing, occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, 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 housing accommodations;

(b)

Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from:

(1)

Participating, without discrimination on account of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (A)(14)(a) of this section.

(2)

Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or

(c)

Discouraging any person from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (A)(14)(a) of this section, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate;

(15)

Refuse to sell, transfer, assign, rent or lease, sublease, finance or otherwise deny or withhold a burial lot from any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, familial status or military status of any prospective owner or user of such lot; or

(16)

For any person to discriminate in any manner against any other person because that person has opposed any unlawful practice defined in Title 23, Chapter 2331 of the Columbus City Codes, or because that person has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner, in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under the provisions of Title 23, Chapter 2331 of the Columbus City Codes.

(B)

Nothing in this section shall bar any religious or denominational institution or organization, or any charitable or educational organization, which is operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization, from giving preference to persons of the same religion or denomination, or from making such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote the religious principles or the aims or purposes for which it is established or maintained.

(C)

Nothing in this section shall bar any person from refusing to rent, lease, or sublease any room, suite of rooms, or apartment to any person because of sex if such room, suite of rooms, or apartment is located in a building in which the only toilet and bathroom facilities provided for such room, suite of rooms, or apartment are for the common use of all occupants.

(D)

Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(Ord. 2535-94; Ord. 1865-2008 § 2 (part).)