New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12½, art. III § 12½-43.2
Disability
Operative Text
(a) A person may not discriminate in the sale or rental or otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of the disability of: (1) That buyer or renter; (2) A person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available; or (3) Any person associated with that buyer or renter. (b) A person may not discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or in the provisions of services or facilities in connection with the dwelling because of the disability of: (1) That person; (2) A person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available; or (3) Any person associated with that person. (c) For purposes of this section only, discrimination includes: (1) A refusal to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person if the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises; (2) A refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when the accommodations may be necessary to afford the person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; or (3) In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwelling for fust occupancy after March 13, 1991, a failure to design and construct those dwellings in a manner that: a. The dwellings have at least one (1) building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. b. With respect to dwellings with a building entrance on an accessible route: (i) The public use and common use portion of the dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities; (ii) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises are sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs; and (iii) All premises within covered multifamily dwelling units contain an accessible route into and through the dwelling, light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations, reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars, and usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space. (Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings & Facilities ["ANSI A 117.1"] satisfies the requirements of this subsection. (4) As used in this subsection, the term "covered multifamily dwellings" means: a. Buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if the buildings have one (1) or more elevators; and b. Ground-floor units in other buildings consisting of four(4) or more units. (e) Nothing in this section 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. Note-- See the editor's note to § 12 ½-43.1.
New Haven Code of Ordinances ch. 12½, art. III § 12½-43.2 prohibits refusing to sell or rent a dwelling to someone because of a disability affecting that person, a future resident, or an associated person. It also bars discriminatory terms or conditions in housing transactions on the same grounds. Beyond outright refusals, the provision defines discrimination to include denying reasonable modifications at the disabled person's expense, refusing reasonable accommodations in rules or policies, and failing to meet specific accessibility design standards in covered multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12½-43.2, compliant housing operators generally evaluate all applicants and tenants without regard to disability status — whether the disability belongs to the applicant, a planned resident, or an associated individual. Operators typically engage in an interactive process when a tenant or applicant requests a reasonable modification or accommodation, documenting the request and any response. For covered multifamily buildings of four or more units, operators are generally expected to ensure that design and construction meet the accessibility standards outlined in the provision, including accessible entrances, common areas, and unit features consistent with ANSI A117.1.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12½-43.2 gives tenants and prospective renters the right to be free from disability-based discrimination in both the decision to rent and in the terms of tenancy. If a landlord refuses a reasonable modification — even one the tenant offers to pay for — or declines to adjust a rule or policy that would allow equal enjoyment of the dwelling, that refusal may constitute a violation under this provision. Tenants who believe their rights under § 12½-43.2 have been violated can explore options such as filing a complaint with a local fair housing agency, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with fair housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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