Calumet City — Ch. 42 Housing § 42-79
Steering
Operative Text
In order to effectuate the policies set forth in section 42-71 as far as legislatively possible, it is hereby declared to be a discriminatory act, an unfair housing practice and unlawful for any lending institution or other person to, for profit, use any word, phrase or action in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling which influences or is intended to influence the choice of a prospective purchaser or renter solely or in part because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, parental status, sexual orientation, source of income, military discharge status, gender identity, retaliation or housing status or by aiding/abetting or willful interference thereof; or for profit, otherwise induce or attempt to induce, or deter or attempt to deter, the inspection, purchase or rental of any dwelling by representations regarding the presence in, proximity to, or entry or prospective entry into, the block, neighborhood or area of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, parental status, sexual orientation, source of income, military discharge status, gender identity, retaliation or housing status or by aiding/abetting or willful interference thereof.
Calumet City Ch. 42 Housing § 42-79 prohibits a practice known as 'steering,' in which a lending institution or other person acting for profit uses words, phrases, or actions to influence a prospective buyer's or renter's housing choices based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, source of income, or gender identity, among others. The provision also bars anyone from making representations about the demographic composition of a neighborhood in order to induce or discourage a person from inspecting, purchasing, or renting a dwelling. Helping or encouraging someone else to engage in these practices is equally prohibited under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Calumet City Ch. 42 Housing § 42-79, compliant property owners and managers take care to ensure that all communications with prospective tenants or buyers — including descriptions of neighborhoods, available units, and community characteristics — are free from references to the protected characteristics listed in the provision. Operators generally train staff and agents to avoid language or conduct that could be interpreted as directing applicants toward or away from particular properties based on race, religion, national origin, disability, source of income, gender identity, or any other covered category. Maintaining consistent, documented practices for how properties are shown and described helps demonstrate that steering has not occurred.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 42-79 of Calumet City's Ch. 42 Housing code gives prospective renters the right to be free from steering — meaning no one acting for profit may use words, actions, or neighborhood representations to steer housing choices based on race, disability, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. If a prospective renter believes they have experienced steering, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local fair housing authority, raising the violation in any related legal proceeding, or contacting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for information about available options. Keeping records of communications, property showings, and any statements made by landlords or agents can be useful when documenting a potential violation under this provision.
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