La Grange — Title VII Ch. 14 Fair Housing § 7-14-85
Steering; Restriction of Choice
Operative Text
(a) It is unlawful to restrict or attempt to restrict, because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin, the choices of a Person by words or acts in connection with buying or Renting a Dwelling so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. (b) Prohibited actions under 7-14-85 , which are generally referred to as unlawful Steering practices, include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Discouraging any Person from inspecting, purchasing or Renting a Dwelling because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin; or because of the race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin of Persons in a community, neighborhood, or development, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. (2) Discouraging the purchase or Rental of a Dwelling because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin by exaggerating drawbacks or failing to inform any Person of desirable features of a Dwelling or of a community, neighborhood, or development, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. (3) Communicating to any prospective purchaser that he or she would not be comfortable or compatible with existing residents of a community, neighborhood or development because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. (4) Assigning any Person to a particular section of a community, neighborhood or development, or to a particular floor of a Building, because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Physical or Mental Disability, Familial Status, or National Origin, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing. (5) Failing to inform any Person of available housing opportunities in a particular section of a community, neighborhood or development, or in a particular Building or particular floor of a Building, because of race, color, Religion, Sex, sexual preference or orientation, Familial Status, National Origin, or Disability, so as to perpetuate, or tend to perpetuate, segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct integrated housing.
La Grange Title VII Ch. 14 Fair Housing § 7-14-85 prohibits any person involved in housing transactions from using words or actions to steer prospective buyers or renters toward or away from particular homes, buildings, neighborhoods, or developments based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation. The rule targets conduct that tends to perpetuate segregated housing patterns or obstruct integrated housing, even when the steering is subtle — such as exaggerating drawbacks, withholding information about desirable features, or suggesting a person would be incompatible with existing residents. Both overt direction and indirect discouragement fall within the scope of this prohibition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 7-14-85 generally ensure that all prospective buyers and renters receive the same complete, accurate information about available units, building features, and neighborhood characteristics regardless of any protected characteristic. Compliant operators avoid any language or conduct — including selective silence about desirable features or unsolicited commentary about neighborhood demographics — that could be construed as channeling applicants toward or away from particular units or areas. Training leasing staff to present all available inventory consistently and document outreach practices are steps commonly associated with compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7-14-85 gives prospective and current renters the right to be free from housing steering based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national origin. If a housing provider appears to be withholding information about available units, discouraging inspection of certain properties, or suggesting incompatibility with a neighborhood based on a protected characteristic, that conduct may constitute a violation of this provision. Individuals who believe they have experienced steering can explore options such as filing a complaint with a local fair housing agency or human rights body, contacting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance, 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.
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