Ottawa — Ch. 46 Human Relations § 46-38
Blockbusting
Operative Text
It is a civil rights violation for any person to: (1) Solicitation. Solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate within this state, on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap. (2) Statements. Distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate in this state to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap of residents in the vicinity of the property involved. (3) Creating alarm. Intentionally create alarm, among residents of any community, by transmitting communications in any manner, including a telephone call whether or not conversation thereby ensues, with a design to induce any owner of residential real estate in this state to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap.
Ottawa Chapter 46, Section 46-38 defines 'blockbusting' as a civil rights violation. The provision prohibits anyone from soliciting real estate transactions, distributing written materials, or deliberately spreading alarming communications — including phone calls — with the intent of inducing property owners to sell or lease based on the actual or anticipated presence of people of a particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status, or disability in a neighborhood. The rule applies to all forms of residential real estate activity within the jurisdiction and covers both direct solicitation and indirect methods of creating community alarm.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, real estate agents, and anyone involved in residential real estate transactions in Ottawa should be aware that Ch. 46 § 46-38 prohibits soliciting sales or leases, distributing materials, or making communications — including phone calls — that play on fears about neighborhood demographic changes. Compliant operators ensure that all marketing, outreach, and communications are based solely on legitimate property characteristics and market factors, never on the protected characteristics of current or prospective neighbors. Maintaining clear records of solicitation practices and training staff on the scope of this civil rights provision are steps commonly taken by operators seeking to remain in compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Ottawa Ch. 46 § 46-38, residents have a civil rights protection against blockbusting tactics — meaning no one may lawfully pressure or alarm you into selling or leasing your home by suggesting that the neighborhood's demographic makeup is changing in ways tied to race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics. If you believe you have received such solicitations, written materials, or alarming communications designed to manipulate your housing decisions, you may have grounds to raise a civil rights complaint under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and local human relations commissions can provide general information about how complaints under § 46-38 are typically filed and what remedies 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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