Effingham — Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-188
Penalties
Operative Text
Any violation of this article shall constitute a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). The exact amount of fine shall be related to the magnitude of violation and the number and magnitude of previous violations committed by the offender. The magnitude of violation is related to the offender's overall involvement in the real estate market.
Section 17-188 of Effingham's Fair Housing ordinance (Ch. 17, Art. VI) classifies any violation of the article as a Class B misdemeanor. A fine between $50 and $500 may be imposed, with the exact amount tied to the severity of the violation and the offender's history of prior violations. The ordinance also directs courts to consider how broadly involved the offender is in the real estate market when calibrating the penalty.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 17-188, property owners and managers who violate any provision of Effingham's Fair Housing article face criminal misdemeanor exposure, not merely a civil fine. Operators who maintain consistent, documented fair-housing compliance practices—such as uniform application criteria and non-discriminatory advertising—generally reduce the risk of violations that could trigger escalating penalties based on prior conduct or market involvement. Because repeat violations and broader real estate activity can increase the fine amount, compliance across an entire portfolio is relevant under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 17-188 establishes that violations of Effingham's Fair Housing article (Ch. 17, Art. VI) are criminal offenses, which means enforcement can involve the local court system rather than only a civil agency. Tenants who believe they have experienced a fair-housing violation may report the conduct to local law enforcement or the municipal authority responsible for code enforcement, as those channels can initiate the misdemeanor process described in this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and fair-housing advocacy groups can also help individuals understand what documentation may be relevant when pursuing a complaint.
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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