Burbank — Ch. 7½ Art. I In General (Housing and Human Rights) § 7½-1

Definitions

In Force
Verified 11/10/2026 · Next check 2/8/2027
BurbankProtected Classes (State/Local)

Operative Text

Burbank — Ch. 7½ Art. I In General (Housing and Human Rights) § 7½-1
Whenever used in this chapter, unless otherwise defined herein:
Age means chronological age of not less than forty (40) years.
Disability means (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one (1) or more of the major life activities of an individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment. Excluded from this definition is an impairment relating to the illegal use, possession or distribution of "controlled substances" as defined in schedules I through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).
Gender identity means the actual or perceived appearance, expression, identity, or behavior of a person as being male or female, whether or not that appearance, expression, identity or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at birth.
Housing status means the type of housing in which an individual resides, whether publicly or privately owned; an individual's ownership status with respect to the individual's residence; or the status of having or not having a fixed residence.
Marital status means the status of being single, married, divorced, separated, or widowed.
Military discharge status means the fact of having been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, their Reserve components or any National Guard or Naval Militia other than by a "dishonorable discharge."
National origin means the place in which an individual or one (1) of his or her ancestors was born.
Parental status means the status of living with one (1) or more dependent minors or disabled children.
Person means one (1) or more individuals; partnerships, associations, or organizations; labor organizations, labor unions, joint apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations; corporations; recipients of city funds; legal representatives, trusts, trustees in bankruptcy, or receivers; state governments other than that of Illinois; or commercial operations or entities controlled by governments other than those of Illinois, or of the United States.
Public accommodation means a person, place, business establishment, or agency that sells, leases, provides, or offers any product, facility, or service to the general public in the city, regardless of ownership or operation (1) by a public body or agency; (2) for or without regard to profit; or (3) for a fee or not for a fee. "Public accommodation" also means an institution, club, association, or other place of accommodation in the city, whether or not open to the general public, that has more than four hundred (400) members and provides regular meal service and regularly receives payment for dues, fees, accommodations, facilities, or services from or on behalf of nonmembers for the furtherance of trade or business. "Public accommodation" also means any products, facilities, or services of a nonpublic accommodation that are made available in the city to the general public or to the customers or patrons of another establishment that is a public accommodation.
Religion means all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, or the actual identification with or perceived identification with a religion.
Sexual orientation means the status or expression, whether actual or perceived, of heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.
Source of income means the lawful manner by which an individual supports himself or herself and his or her dependents.
Unlawful discrimination means discrimination against a person because of the actual or perceived status, practice, or expression of that person's race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, gender identity or housing status; or the actual or perceived association with such a person.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-1 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's housing and human rights chapter by defining key protected characteristics and related terms. These definitions — covering categories such as "disability," "gender identity," "housing status," "source of income," and others — set the scope of what counts as "unlawful discrimination" throughout the chapter. The definitions are designed to be interpreted broadly, capturing both actual and perceived characteristics, as well as association with a person who holds a protected status.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 10, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-1, property owners and managers operating in Burbank are subject to a chapter that protects a notably wide range of characteristics, including housing status (which covers whether a person has a fixed residence) and source of income (covering any lawful means of financial support). Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with each defined term, since the chapter's protections apply to both actual and perceived membership in a protected class. Policies around tenant screening, advertising, and lease terms are typically reviewed against these definitions to ensure they do not inadvertently treat applicants or residents differently based on any listed characteristic.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-1 defines the protected classes that underpin the city's anti-discrimination framework, meaning tenants may have recourse if they are treated differently because of characteristics such as marital status, parental status, military discharge status, or housing status, among others. Notably, the definition of "unlawful discrimination" extends to perceived characteristics and to association with a protected person, which can broaden the situations in which a tenant may have a potential claim. Tenants who believe they have experienced discrimination covered by this chapter may consider documenting the relevant interactions and reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or the appropriate city agency for information about available complaint processes.

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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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Related Rules

§ 1
Definitions
§ 3
Functions, powers and duties of commission
§ 4
Unlawful practices

Source Information