Effingham — Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-157
Discriminatory advertising of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful to print or publish any statement or advertisement that, with respect to the sale or rental of any dwelling, indicates any discrimination or intent to discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap.
Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI § 17-157 prohibits any printed or published statement or advertisement related to the sale or rental of a dwelling from signaling discrimination—or an intent to discriminate—based on race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap. The rule applies to the content of the communication itself, not just the underlying transaction. Any advertisement that conveys a preference, limitation, or exclusion tied to those protected characteristics falls within the scope of this prohibition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Effingham § 17-157, operators who list dwellings for sale or rent are expected to review all advertising copy—including online listings, flyers, and signage—to ensure no language signals a preference or restriction based on race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap. Compliant operators typically use neutral, amenity-focused language and avoid phrases that could be read as steering or excluding protected classes. Periodic review of templated or recurring ad copy is a common practice for maintaining compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Effingham § 17-157 gives individuals a basis to raise concerns when a housing advertisement appears to indicate discrimination or an intent to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap. Someone who encounters such an advertisement may consider documenting it and contacting the appropriate local or state fair housing authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for information about available options. This provision can also be relevant as background context in broader fair housing complaints or proceedings.
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 Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation