Effingham — Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-162
Membership in real estate organizations
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin or physical handicap with respect to access to or membership or participation in: (a) Any multiple-listing service; (b) Real estate brokers' organization; or (c) Any other service, organization or facility connected with the business of buying, selling, or renting dwellings.
Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-162 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical handicap when it comes to joining or participating in real estate-related organizations and services — including multiple-listing services, brokers' organizations, and any other facility tied to buying, selling, or renting homes. The rule extends fair-housing protections beyond individual housing transactions to the professional infrastructure that supports the housing market. Any denial or restriction of access to these services on the listed grounds is treated as an unlawful act under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Effingham § 17-162, property owners and managers who participate in multiple-listing services, brokers' associations, or similar real estate organizations are expected to ensure that their own membership activities and referrals do not involve discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical handicap. Compliant operators generally review their affiliations with real estate service organizations to confirm those organizations operate on a nondiscriminatory basis. Maintaining records of how professional services are selected and used can support a pattern of consistent, lawful conduct.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Effingham § 17-162 establishes that the fair-housing protections in Ch. 17 Art. VI extend to the organizations and services that underpin the housing market, meaning that discriminatory gatekeeping at the level of listing services or brokers' groups is also prohibited. If a tenant or prospective buyer believes they were harmed by discrimination rooted in how real estate professionals access or share listings — for example, being steered away from certain properties because of a broker's restricted MLS participation — this provision may be relevant to that concern. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the appropriate local or state fair-housing authority, contacting a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization, or consulting with a legal aid provider familiar with Effingham's fair-housing ordinance.
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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