Country Club Hills — Ch. 19 Fair Housing § 19.3.01
Exemptions
Operative Text
Nothing in this ordinance shall apply to: A. The rental of a room or rooms in an owner-occupied single family dwelling; B. A religious organization or any non-profit organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, with respect to its limitation of the sale, rental or occupancy of dwellings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or with respect to preference given to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color, sex, or national, origin, or ancestry; or, C. A private club not in fact open to the public, which as an incident to its primary purpose provides lodgings for rental or occupancy to its members and their guests if such lodgings are not operated for a commercial purpose.
Section 19.3.01 of Country Club Hills Chapter 19 carves out three categories of housing situations that fall outside the ordinance's fair housing requirements. These exemptions cover owner-occupied single-family homes where a room is rented out, religious or affiliated non-profit organizations that limit housing to members of the same faith (provided that religion does not restrict membership based on race, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry), and private clubs that offer lodging to members and guests as a non-commercial, incidental function. Where an exemption applies, the fair housing protections established elsewhere in the ordinance do not govern the transaction or occupancy arrangement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators who believe their property or organization qualifies under one of the § 19.3.01 exemptions—such as an owner who lives in a single-family home and rents a room—generally document the owner-occupancy status and the non-commercial nature of the arrangement to support that classification. Religious organizations and private clubs that rely on the membership-based exemptions typically ensure their membership criteria do not exclude individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, or ancestry, since that condition voids the exemption. Maintaining clear records of the property type, ownership status, and organizational purpose helps demonstrate compliance with the boundaries § 19.3.01 sets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you believe a housing provider is improperly claiming an exemption under § 19.3.01 to avoid fair housing obligations, you may have grounds to challenge that classification. For example, a landlord who does not actually occupy the single-family dwelling, or a religious organization whose membership is restricted on a prohibited basis, may not qualify for the exemption. Tenants and applicants can explore options such as filing a complaint with a local or state fair housing agency, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with fair housing law to understand whether § 19.3.01 applies to their situation.
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.
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