Pontiac — Part I Ch. 24 Human Relations and Social Services § 24-124
Rights of property owners
Operative Text
Nothing in this article shall require an owner to offer property to the public at large before selling or renting it, provided he complies with all other provisions of this article, nor shall this article be deemed to prohibit owners from giving preference to prospective tenants or buyers for any reason other than race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or unfavorable discharge from military status. Nothing in this article shall require an owner to offer property for sale or lease or to show his property to any person if such person is not negotiating for the purchase or lease of such property in good faith.
Pontiac Code § 24-124 preserves certain rights for property owners within the city's human relations framework. Owners are not required to market property to the general public before selling or renting, as long as they comply with the rest of the article's anti-discrimination requirements. Owners may give preference to prospective tenants or buyers for any reason except those protected characteristics listed in the article—such as race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation—and they are not obligated to show or negotiate with anyone who is not genuinely interested in purchasing or leasing the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Pontiac Code § 24-124, compliant property owners generally ensure that any preferences they apply in selecting tenants or buyers are based on legitimate, non-protected criteria—such as financial qualifications or prior rental history—rather than any of the characteristics enumerated in the article. Operators typically document their selection criteria consistently across all applicants to demonstrate that protected characteristics played no role in their decisions. Owners may also decline to engage with individuals who are not negotiating in good faith, provided that determination is applied evenhandedly and not as a pretext for discrimination.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Pontiac Code § 24-124 makes clear that while owners retain certain discretion in how they market and show property, that discretion does not extend to discriminating on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation, among others. If a prospective tenant believes an owner used a protected characteristic as the real reason for a refusal to rent or show a unit, that person may have grounds to raise a violation under this article. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the relevant local human relations body, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring other remedies available under Pontiac's human relations ordinance.
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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