La Grange — Title VII Ch. 14 Fair Housing § 7-14-40
Panic Peddling
Operative Text
(a) It is unlawful, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce a Person to sell or Rent a Dwelling by representation regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a Person of a particular race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin. (b) Prohibited actions under 7-14-40 include, but are not limited to: (1) Engaging for profit in conduct (including uninvited Solicitations for listings) which conveys to a Person that a neighborhood is undergoing or is about to undergo a change in the race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin of Persons residing in it, in order to encourage Persons to Offer a Dwelling for sale or Rental. (2) Encouraging, for profit, any Person to sell or Rent a Dwelling through assertions that the entry or prospective entry of Persons of a particular race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference, Familial Status, or National Origin or with Disabilities can or will result in undesirable consequences for the project, neighborhood or community, such as a lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the quality of schools or other services or facilities.
La Grange § 7-14-40 prohibits a practice commonly called 'panic peddling' or 'blockbusting,' in which someone acts for profit to pressure or persuade property owners to sell or rent their homes by making representations about the racial, religious, or other demographic composition of a neighborhood. The rule covers both direct statements and subtler conduct — such as unsolicited solicitations for listings — that imply a neighborhood is changing in ways tied to protected characteristics. Suggesting that the arrival of people of a particular background will lower property values, increase crime, or degrade local schools or services is explicitly identified as a prohibited form of this conduct.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in La Grange should be aware that § 7-14-40 applies to real estate professionals and others who act for profit in the housing market, not just to landlords directly. A compliant operator avoids any marketing language, solicitation, or representation — whether direct or implied — that ties neighborhood change to the protected characteristics of incoming or current residents. Real estate agents, brokers, or other parties acting on behalf of a property owner in soliciting listings or rentals are also subject to these prohibitions, so operators generally vet the conduct of anyone acting as their representative.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under La Grange § 7-14-40, residents and prospective buyers or renters have a right to be free from manipulative, profit-driven tactics designed to exploit fears about neighborhood demographics. If someone acting for profit contacts you with unsolicited solicitations or makes statements suggesting that people of a particular race, religion, national origin, or other protected class moving into your area will harm property values or community quality, that conduct may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants and homeowners who believe they have experienced panic peddling can document the conduct and explore options such as filing a complaint with a local fair housing authority, contacting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with fair housing law.
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
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.