Morris — Ch. 22 Human Relations and Social Services § 22-21
Prohibited acts
Operative Text
It is unlawful for any owner of real estate, lessee, sublessee, real estate broker or salesman, financial institution or employee of the financial institution, advertiser or agent of any or all of the foregoing, to discriminate against any person because of their race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability with regard to the sale, exchange or rental, or any dealing concerning any housing accommodation and/or real property. In addition, it shall also be unlawful for any real estate broker or employee thereof, owner or other person, or financial institution dealing with housing or real property in the city: (1) To discriminate against any person in the availability of or the price, terms, conditions or privileges of any kind relating to the sale, rental, lease or occupancy of any housing accommodation or real property in the city or in furnishing of any facilities or services in connection therewith; (2) To publish or circulate, or cause to be published or circulated, any notice, statement or advertisement, or to announce a policy, or to use any form of application, for the purchase, lease, rental or financing of real property, or to make any record of inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of such real estate, which expresses directly or indirectly any discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability of any person; (3) To discriminate in connection with lending money, guaranteeing loans, accepting mortgages or otherwise obtaining or making available funds for the purchase, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation and/or real property; (4) To solicit for sale, lease or listing for the sale or lease, of any housing accommodation and/or real property on the grounds of loss of value because of the present or prospective entry into any neighborhood of any person of any particular race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability; (5) To distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner or any housing accommodation and/or real property to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective change in the race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability of persons in the neighborhood; (6) To make any misrepresentations concerning the listing for sale or the anticipated listing for sale or the sale of any housing accommodation and/or real property for the purpose of inducing or attempting to induce the sale or listing for sale of any housing accommodation and/or real property by representing that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability in the area will or may result in the lowering of property values in the block, neighborhood or area in which the property is located; (7) For an owner to solicit any real estate broker, to sell, rent or otherwise deal with such owner's housing accommodations and/or real property with any limitation on its sale based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, physical or mental handicap; (8) For an owner to refuse to sell, rent or otherwise deal with any housing accommodation and/or real property because of race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability of the proposed buyer or tenant.
Morris Ch. 22 § 22-21 establishes a broad prohibition on housing discrimination within the city, covering the sale, rental, exchange, and financing of real property. The rule bars owners, lessees, brokers, financial institutions, advertisers, and their agents from treating people differently based on race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability. It also specifically outlaws blockbusting practices—such as soliciting sales by stoking fears about neighborhood demographic change—and prohibits discriminatory advertising, lending decisions, and misrepresentations tied to protected characteristics.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Morris Ch. 22 § 22-21, compliant property owners and managers apply consistent, non-discriminatory criteria when listing, advertising, showing, pricing, and renting or selling any housing accommodation or real property in the city. Operators generally ensure that all written materials, application forms, and public statements are free of any language that expresses or implies a preference or limitation based on protected characteristics. Owners also avoid engaging brokers or agents under any instruction that restricts dealings based on race, color, religion, sex, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental disability.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Morris Ch. 22 § 22-21 gives residents and prospective tenants or buyers protection against discriminatory treatment at every stage of a housing transaction, from advertising and application through financing and occupancy. If a person believes they have experienced discrimination covered by this provision—such as being refused a rental, offered different terms, or subjected to blockbusting tactics—general enforcement paths may include filing a complaint with the Morris Human Relations Commission or a comparable local body, raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance. Consulting with a qualified housing attorney can also help clarify what options may be available under § 22-21.
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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