Naperville — Title 12 Human Rights and Fair Housing § 12-1-1
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FAIR HOUSING:
Operative Text
It is the policy of the City of Naperville that all individuals shall have an equal opportunities and access to places of public accommodation including the ability to purchase, own, lease, and occupy housing within the City without being discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, or legal source of income. It is also the policy of the City that members of those protected classes shall have the right to be free from discriminatory practices, including when engaging in real estate transactions and seeking access to financial credit for real estate transactions. The City's human rights and fair housing regulations shall be consistent with and, in some cases, more stringent than the provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq., as amended) and the Fair Housing Act (42 USC Section 3601 et seq., as amended). Both laws as used in this Title shall be identified as the "Fair Housing Act" and the "Illinois Human Rights Act" without citation to the Statutes unless a specific citation is necessary.
Naperville Title 12 Human Rights and Fair Housing § 12-1-1 establishes the city's foundational policy that every person has an equal right to purchase, own, lease, and occupy housing without discrimination based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or legal source of income, among others. The provision also protects members of these groups from discriminatory practices in real estate transactions and when seeking financing. Naperville's local rules are designed to align with — and in some instances exceed — the protections found in both the Illinois Human Rights Act and the federal Fair Housing Act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Naperville § 12-1-1, property owners and managers operating within the city are expected to conduct all aspects of housing — including advertising, leasing, sales, and financing referrals — without regard to any of the protected characteristics enumerated in this provision. Because Naperville's standards may be stricter than state and federal baselines, compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with local requirements in addition to the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act. Keeping consistent, documented, and non-discriminatory criteria for tenant selection and real estate transactions is a hallmark of operations that align with this policy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Naperville § 12-1-1 affirms that residents and prospective residents have the right to be free from housing discrimination based on a broad set of protected characteristics, including legal source of income and sexual orientation — protections that may go beyond what state or federal law alone provides. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory treatment in renting, purchasing, or obtaining financing for housing may have recourse through local, state, or federal channels, including filing a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help individuals understand how § 12-1-1 and related laws may apply to their circumstances.
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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