South Holland — Ch. 8.5 Housing § 8.5-81
Discrimination against the disabled
Operative Text
(a) It shall be unlawful to make an inquiry to determine whether an applicant for a dwelling; a person intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available; or any person associated with that person has a disability, or to make inquiry as to the nature or severity of a disability of such a person. (b) However, this section does not prohibit the following inquiries, provided these inquiries are made of all applicants, whether or not they have disabilities: (1) Inquiry into the applicant's ability to meet the requirements of ownership or tenancy. (2) Inquiry to determine whether an applicant is qualified for a dwelling available only to persons with disabilities or to persons with a particular type of disability. (3) Inquiry to determine whether an applicant for a dwelling is qualified for a priority available to persons with disabilities or to persons with a particular type of disability. (4) Inquiry to determine whether an applicant for a dwelling is a current illegal abuser or addict of a controlled substance. (5) Inquiry to determine whether an applicant has been convicted of the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance. (c) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
South Holland Ch. 8.5 Housing § 8.5-81 prohibits housing providers from asking applicants, prospective residents, or people associated with them whether they have a disability or how severe that disability is. The rule carves out a narrow set of permissible inquiries—such as whether an applicant can meet tenancy requirements, qualifies for disability-specific housing or priority programs, or has a disqualifying drug-related history—but only when those questions are posed uniformly to all applicants. The provision also preserves the ability to deny housing to someone whose presence would pose a direct threat to others' health or safety or cause substantial property damage.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under South Holland Ch. 8.5 Housing § 8.5-81, compliant housing operators apply a consistent screening process that avoids any questions about whether an applicant has a disability or the nature and severity of one. Permissible inquiries—such as ability to meet tenancy obligations, eligibility for disability-preference programs, or drug-related conviction history—are asked of every applicant in the same way, not selectively. Operators who maintain uniform, documented screening criteria are generally better positioned to demonstrate that their practices align with the requirements of § 8.5-81.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
South Holland Ch. 8.5 Housing § 8.5-81 gives housing applicants the right not to be questioned about whether they have a disability or how serious it is during the application process. If a housing provider asks disability-related questions that fall outside the narrow exceptions listed in the provision, that conduct may constitute a violation of this section. Tenants or applicants who believe their rights under § 8.5-81 have been violated can document the interaction, reach out to a local tenant-rights organization, or explore filing a complaint with the appropriate municipal or fair housing authority.
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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