Joliet — Ch. 9½ Art. II Real Estate Transactions § 9½-27
Refusal to negotiate
Operative Text
It shall be an unlawful real estate practice and a violation of this article for any real estate broker, salesman, agent, owner, or other person to refuse to negotiate for, enter into, or perform any sale or rent of any real property because of the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or mental, sensory or physical handicap of any party to such sale or rent, or of any member of the family of any such party, or of any person using or occupying or intending to use or occupy such real property in the area in which such real property is located.
Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. II § 9½-27 prohibits any real estate broker, salesperson, agent, owner, or other person involved in real property transactions from refusing to negotiate, enter into, or carry out a sale or rental based on a person's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability status. The protection extends not only to the direct buyer or renter but also to their family members and anyone who intends to use or occupy the property. This rule applies across the full arc of a transaction, from initial negotiation through final performance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. II § 9½-27, compliant property owners and managers engage with all prospective tenants on the same terms regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability — including the disability or background of a prospective tenant's family members or intended occupants. Operators generally document their rental criteria and apply them uniformly so that any decision to decline a negotiation or application is grounded in neutral, consistently applied standards. Training staff and agents on this provision helps ensure that no stage of the leasing process — from first inquiry to lease execution — reflects a prohibited basis for refusal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9½-27 of Joliet's Ch. 9½ Art. II gives prospective and current tenants the right to be free from refusals to negotiate or rent based on protected characteristics such as race, national origin, disability, or sex, and that protection covers family members and intended occupants as well. If a landlord, broker, or agent appears to have declined to negotiate or rent for one of these reasons, a person may consider filing a complaint with the Joliet city government or with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which enforces parallel federal fair housing requirements. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand what documentation may be relevant and what local or federal complaint processes are available.
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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