Mascoutah — Ch. 13 Fair Housing Code § 13-1-3
Construction
Operative Text
This Code shall be construed according to the fair import of its terms and shall be liberally construed to further the purposes and policy stated in section 13-1-2 and the special purposes of the particular provision involved.
Section 13-1-3 of Mascoutah's Fair Housing Code establishes a rule of interpretation: the Code's language should be read according to its plain, fair meaning and interpreted broadly to advance the anti-discrimination goals set out in § 13-1-2. This means that ambiguous or borderline situations are generally resolved in favor of the Code's protective purposes rather than narrowly or technically. The provision also directs that each individual section be read in light of its own specific intent within the broader fair housing framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13-1-3, operators and property managers should understand that Mascoutah's Fair Housing Code is designed to be read expansively, not narrowly. A compliant operator generally avoids relying on technical loopholes or narrow readings of specific provisions, recognizing that decision-makers are directed to interpret the Code in favor of its fair housing purposes. Familiarity with the policy goals stated in § 13-1-2 helps inform how any particular rule in the Code is likely to be applied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 13-1-3 means that if a question arises about whether a particular practice falls within the Fair Housing Code's protections, the Code is meant to be read in your favor as a matter of interpretation. Tenants who believe a provision applies to their situation can point to this construction rule to support a broader reading of their rights under the Code. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney familiar with Mascoutah's ordinances can help identify how § 13-1-3's interpretive mandate may bear on a specific complaint or defense.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation