Havana — Title 9 Ch. 9.12 Housing Discrimination § 9.12.020
Definitions
Operative Text
When used herein: A. "Discrimination" or "discriminatory housing practice" means any difference in treatment based upon race, color, religion, sex or national origin; or any act that is unlawful under this chapter. B. "Financial institution" includes any person, as defined herein, engaged in the business of lending money or guaranteeing losses. C. "Housing accommodation" or "dwelling" means any building, mobile home or trailer, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed, or intended for occupancy, as a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, mobile home or trailer, structure, or portion thereof or any real property, as defined herein, used or intended to be used for any of the purposes set forth in this subsection. D. "Mortgage broker" means an individual who is engaged in or who performs the business or services of a mortgage broker as the same are defined by Illinois Statutes. E. "Open market" means the market which is informed of the availability for sale, purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, whether informed through a real estate broker or by advertising by publication, signs or by any other advertising methods directed to the public or any portion thereof, indicating that the property is available for sale, purchase, rental or lease. F. "Owner" includes a lessee, sublessee, cotenant, assignee, managing agent or other person having the right of ownership or possession, or the right to sell, rent or lease any housing accommodation. G. "Person" includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint ventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations and all other groups or combinations. H. "Real estate broker" or "real estate sales-man" includes any individual, qualified by law, who, for a fee, commission, salary or for other valuable consideration, or who with the intention or expectation of receiving or collecting same, lists, sells, purchases, rents, or leases any housing accommodations, including options thereupon, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate such activities, or who advertises or holds himself out as engaged in such activities, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate a loan, secured by a mortgage or other encumbrance, upon transfer of any housing accommodation, or who is engaged in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting for collection of a fee in connection with a contract whereby he undertakes to promote the sale, purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation through its listing in a publication issued primarily for such purpose, or an individual employed by or acting on behalf of any of these. I. "Real property" includes buildings, structures, lands, tenements, leaseholds, cooperatives and condominiums.
Section 9.12.020 of Havana's Title 9, Chapter 9.12 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the housing discrimination ordinance. It defines key terms such as "discrimination," "housing accommodation," "owner," "person," "real estate broker," and related concepts to clarify who and what is covered by the chapter's protections and obligations. These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for all other provisions in the ordinance, meaning that whether a party or property falls under the chapter's rules depends on how they fit within these defined terms. The definitions are broad by design, encompassing a wide range of actors—from individuals to corporations—and a wide range of property types.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and agents operating in Havana should be aware that § 9.12.020 defines "owner" expansively to include not just titleholders but also lessees, sublessees, managing agents, and others with rights of possession or the ability to rent or sell. This means that responsibility under Chapter 9.12's anti-discrimination rules can extend to property managers and agents acting on an owner's behalf, not solely the record owner. Operators who engage financial institutions or mortgage brokers in connection with housing transactions should also note that those parties fall within the ordinance's defined scope.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Havana benefit from the broad definitions established in § 9.12.020, which extend the ordinance's protections across a wide range of housing types—including buildings, mobile homes, trailers, and structures intended for residential use. The expansive definition of "owner" means that protections apply regardless of whether a tenant is dealing with a titleholder, a managing agent, or another party with control over the housing accommodation. Tenants who believe they have experienced a discriminatory housing practice as defined in this section may explore options such as filing a complaint with a local civil rights or housing authority, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Havana's municipal code.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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