Ashton — Ch. 38 Human Relations § 38-32
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: Department means the state department of human rights. Discrimination and discriminatory housing practice mean any difference in treatment based upon race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, disability, military status, or unfavorable discharge from military service as those terms are defined in the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-103; or any act that is unlawful under this article. Financial institution includes any person engaged in the business of lending money or guaranteeing losses. Housing accommodation includes any improved or unimproved real property, or part thereof, which is used or occupied, or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied, as the home or residence of one or more individuals. Mortgage broker means an individual who is engaged in or who performs the business or services of a mortgage broker as defined by statutes. Open market means the market which is informed of the availability for sale, purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, whether informed through a real estate broker or by advertising by publication, signs or any other advertising methods directed to the public or any portion thereof, indicating that the property is available for sale, purchase, rental or lease. Owner includes a lessee, sublessee, cotenant, assignee, managing agent or other person having the right of ownership or possession of or the right to sell, rent or lease any housing accommodation. Person includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations or organizations, labor organizations, labor unions, joint apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations, corporations, the state and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions, units of local government, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy or receivers. Real estate broker and real estate salesman include any individual, qualified by law, who, for a fee, commission, salary or other valuable consideration, or who with the intention of expectation of receiving or collecting a fee, commission, salary or other valuable consideration, lists, sells, purchases, rents, or leases any housing accommodations, including options thereupon, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate such activities; or who advertises or holds himself out as engaged in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting for collection of a fee in connection with a contract whereby he undertakes to promote the sale, purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation through its listing in a publication issued primarily for such purpose; or an individual employed by or acting on behalf of any of these. Real property includes buildings, structures, real estate, lands, tenements, leaseholds, interests in real estate cooperatives, condominiums, and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, or any interest therein.
Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-32 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's human relations article on housing. It defines key terms — including 'discrimination,' 'housing accommodation,' 'owner,' and 'real property' — that govern how the rest of the article is interpreted and applied. The definition of 'discrimination' expressly ties protected characteristics to those recognized under the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-103), covering race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, disability, and military status. These definitions set the scope of who and what is covered by Ashton's fair housing rules.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-32, the term 'owner' is defined broadly to include not just titleholders but also lessees, sublessees, managing agents, and others with the right to rent or lease a housing accommodation. Property managers and landlords operating in Ashton generally ensure that anyone acting on their behalf — such as leasing agents or property management companies — understands that they may fall within the article's definition of 'owner' and are therefore subject to its nondiscrimination requirements. Familiarity with the defined terms, particularly 'discrimination' and 'housing accommodation,' helps operators understand the full reach of the article's obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-32 defines 'discrimination' to include differences in treatment based on characteristics such as race, sex, disability, and military status, among others, giving tenants a clear reference point for understanding what conduct the article is designed to address. The broad definition of 'owner' means that protections can apply regardless of whether a tenant is dealing directly with a property titleholder or with a managing agent or sublessee. Tenants who believe they have experienced a discriminatory housing practice as defined in § 38-32 may consider contacting the state Department of Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation