Ashland — Ch. 20 Human Relations § 20-21
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Dwelling means any building or structure, or portion thereof, within the village, which is arranged, designed or used as a home, residence or living quarters of one or more individuals. Housing means and includes any building or structure, or portion thereof, within the village, which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as the home, residence or living quarters of one or more individuals, groups or families, and includes any vacant land within the village which is zoned and intended to be used for the construction of any such building or structure. Lease means and includes sublease, assignment, and rent (or rental), and includes any contract to do any of the foregoing. Lending institution means any bank, insurance company, savings and loan association, other person in the business of lending money or guaranteeing loans, any person in the business of obtaining, arranging or negotiating loans or guarantees as agent or broker, and any person in the business of buying or selling loans or instruments for the payment of money which are secured by title to a security interest in real estate, but shall not include any religious institution or organization or any charitable or educational organization operated, supervised or controlled by a religious institution or organization. National origin means and includes the national origin of an ancestor. Owner means any person who holds legal or equitable title to, or owns any beneficial interest in, any dwelling or housing, or who holds legal or equitable title to shares of, or holds any beneficial interest in, any real estate cooperative which owns any dwelling or housing. Person means and includes one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, legal representatives, mutual companies, unincorporated organizations, trusts, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers and fiduciaries. Purchase means and includes any contract to purchase. Real estate agent means any real estate broker, and real estate salesperson, and any other person who, as an employee or agent or otherwise, engages in the management or operation of any dwelling or housing. Real estate broker means any person licensed as a real estate broker in accordance with the provisions of state law, or required thereby to be so licensed. Real estate salesperson means any person licensed as a real estate salesperson in accordance with the provisions of state law, or required thereby to be so licensed. Real estate transaction means the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of any dwelling or housing, and an option to do any of the foregoing. Sale means and includes any contract to sell, exchange, or to convey, transfer or assign legal or equitable title to or a beneficial interest in real estate. State Law reference-- Similar definitions, 775 ILCS 5/3-101.
Section 20-21 of Ashland's Chapter 20 Human Relations article establishes the precise meanings of key terms used throughout the article's fair housing and human relations rules. Words like "dwelling," "housing," "owner," "lease," and "real estate transaction" are each given specific definitions that govern how the rest of the article is interpreted and applied. These definitions are broadly drawn — for example, "lease" includes subleases and assignments, and "housing" covers vacant land zoned for residential construction — so that the article's protections extend across a wide range of residential real estate activity. The definitions align with similar language found in Illinois state law at 775 ILCS 5/3-101.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Ashland should be aware that § 20-21 defines "owner" broadly to include anyone holding legal, equitable, or beneficial title to a dwelling or housing, meaning obligations under Chapter 20 can apply even to indirect ownership arrangements such as cooperative shares. The definition of "real estate transaction" covers purchases, sales, exchanges, and leases, so compliance responsibilities extend across the full range of residential property dealings. Operators who work through agents or brokers should note that "real estate agent" is also defined broadly to include anyone engaged in the management or operation of a dwelling, which can extend the article's reach to property managers and employees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Ashland benefit from the broad definitions established in § 20-21, which set the scope of protections throughout the Human Relations article. Because "housing" is defined to include any building, structure, or portion thereof used as a residence, and "lease" is defined to include subleases and assignments, these protections generally apply across a wide variety of living arrangements. Tenants who believe their rights under Chapter 20 have been violated may wish to review these definitions to understand whether their situation falls within the article's coverage, and can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource for further guidance.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.