Peoria — Ch. 17 Human Relations, Housing and Employment § 17-26
Declaration of policy
Operative Text
It is hereby found that prejudice and discrimination against any individual or group because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or having one or more children under the age of 18 years residing in his family, is inimical to our American tradition of equality of opportunity for all, and menaces peace and public welfare; that to eliminate such prejudice and discrimination, an instrumentality of government should be established through which the citizens of the city may be provided the opportunity for equality of treatment and of opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual harassment, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or having one or more children under the age of 18 years residing in their family.
Peoria's § 17-26 establishes the city's foundational policy against discrimination in housing and other areas of life. The provision identifies discrimination based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, and familial status as harmful to public welfare and contrary to American ideals of equal opportunity. To address this, the provision calls for a government body empowered to ensure residents are treated equally regardless of those protected characteristics.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 17-26, Peoria has declared a clear public policy that housing operators must not discriminate against applicants or residents on the basis of protected characteristics, including race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, or familial status. Compliant property owners and managers generally apply consistent screening criteria, maintain neutral policies, and document their practices in ways that reflect equal treatment across all protected classes. This declaration underpins the enforcement framework that follows in Chapter 17 of Peoria's Human Relations code.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 17-26 reflects Peoria's commitment to ensuring that all residents have equal access to housing opportunities free from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or having children under 18 in the household. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory treatment may raise this policy declaration as context when pursuing a complaint under Chapter 17 of Peoria's Human Relations ordinance. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local fair housing law can help residents understand what remedies and complaint processes 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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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