Ottawa — Ch. 46 Human Relations § 46-37
Discriminatory actions
Operative Text
It is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of unlawful discrimination or familial status, to: (1) Transaction. Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction. (2) Terms. Alter the terms, conditions or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith. (3) Offer. Refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from a person. (4) Negotiation. Refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction with a person. (5) Representations. Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or to fail to bring a property listing to his attention, or to refuse to permit him to inspect real property. (6) Publication of intent. Print, circulate, post, mail, publish or cause to be so published a written or oral statement, advertisement or sign, or to use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or to make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, which expresses any limitation founded upon, or indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to engage in unlawful discrimination. (7) Listings. Offer, solicit, accept, use or retain a listing of real property with knowledge that unlawful discrimination or discrimination on the basis of familial status in a real estate transaction is intended.
Ottawa Chapter 46, Section 46-37 identifies a broad set of actions in real estate transactions that constitute civil rights violations when motivated by unlawful discrimination or familial status. The provision covers the full arc of a real estate transaction — from initial listings and advertising through negotiation, offers, and final terms — prohibiting discriminatory refusals, misrepresentations about availability, and discriminatory publications or records. Any owner, broker, salesperson, or other participant in a real estate transaction is subject to these prohibitions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ottawa Ch. 46 § 46-37, property owners and managers operating in compliance generally ensure that all prospective buyers, renters, or lessees are treated uniformly at every stage of a transaction, from listing to closing. Compliant operators apply consistent criteria when evaluating offers, setting terms, and communicating availability, and they avoid advertising language or application forms that signal any limitation based on protected characteristics or familial status. Maintaining records that reflect neutral, non-discriminatory decision-making across all transactions is a hallmark of lawful real estate practice under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ottawa Ch. 46 § 46-37 establishes that tenants and prospective buyers have the right to engage in real estate transactions free from discrimination based on unlawful grounds or familial status, including the right to receive honest representations about property availability and to have bona fide offers transmitted. If a person believes they have experienced a violation — such as being told a unit is unavailable when it is not, or receiving different terms than similarly situated applicants — they may have grounds to raise that conduct as a civil rights violation under this section. Tenant-rights organizations and local human relations commissions can be useful starting points for understanding what complaint or enforcement options may be available.
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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