Calumet City — Ch. 42 Housing § 42-80
Panic peddling
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, induce or attempt to induce the sale, rental or listing for sale 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 § 42-80 prohibits a practice commonly called 'panic peddling' or 'blockbusting.' The rule makes it unlawful for any lending institution or other person to profit by steering property owners toward selling or renting their homes through suggestions that people of a particular race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristic are moving into the neighborhood. The provision treats this conduct as both a discriminatory act and an unfair housing practice under the city's fair-housing framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Calumet City § 42-80, compliant property owners and managers avoid engaging or cooperating with any solicitation that uses neighborhood demographic change as a selling point. Operators generally decline to work with brokers or lenders who make representations about the racial, religious, or other protected-class composition of a block or area to motivate a listing or sale. Documenting any such unsolicited contact can help demonstrate that a business is not participating in or facilitating panic-peddling conduct.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Calumet City § 42-80 gives residents a basis to challenge efforts by lenders, brokers, or other parties who attempt to pressure them into selling or renting by making claims about who is moving into their neighborhood. Tenants and homeowners who believe they have experienced this conduct may raise a violation under the city's fair-housing provisions, file a complaint with a local or state fair-housing agency, or reach out to a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for general information about available remedies. Keeping records of any communications that reference neighborhood demographics can be useful when pursuing any of these paths.
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