Vandalia — Title 9 Ch. 9.28 Discrimination § 2.28.020
Definitions
Operative Text
Unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms shall have the meaning as described in this section and as used in this chapter. "Discriminate." The terms "discriminate" or "discrimination" mean any difference expressed in any way toward a person or persons in the terms of the sale, exchange, lease, rental or financing for housing accommodation and/or real property in regard to such sale, exchange, rental, lease or finance because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, or disability of such person. "Housing accommodation." The term "housing accommodation" includes any building, structure, or portion thereof which is used or occupied, maintained, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as a home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human beings, or any real estate so used, designed or intended for such use. "Real property." The term "real property" means any real estate, vacant land, building, structure or housing accommodations within the corporate limits of The City of Vandalia in Fayette County, Illinois. "Real estate broker." The term "real estate broker" means any person, partnership, association, corporation and/or agent thereof, who for a fee or other valuable consideration offers, sells, purchases, exchanges or rents, or negotiates for the sale, purchase, exchange or rental of a housing accommodation and/or real property of another, or collects rental for the use of housing accommodation and/or real property of another. "Financial institution." The term "financial institution" means any person, institution or business entity of any kind which loans money to persons and receives as security for said loans a secured interest of any kind in the real property of the borrower. "Owner." An "owner" means any person/persons who hold legal or equitable title to, or own any beneficial interest in any real property or who hold legal or equitable title to shares of, or hold any beneficial interest in any real estate cooperative which owns any real property and/or housing accommodations. "Decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters." "Decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters" is housing which is in sound, clean, and weather tight condition in conformance with applicable local, state, and national codes.
Vandalia — Title 9 Ch. 9.28 Discrimination § 2.28.020 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's housing discrimination chapter. It defines key terms such as "discriminate," "housing accommodation," "real property," "real estate broker," "financial institution," "owner," and "decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters." These definitions set the scope of who and what is covered by Vandalia's anti-discrimination rules in housing sales, rentals, exchanges, and financing, covering protected characteristics including race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, creed, and disability.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and real estate brokers operating within Vandalia's corporate limits should be familiar with the definitions established in § 2.28.020, as these terms determine whether a given transaction or property falls under the chapter's anti-discrimination requirements. The definition of "owner" is broad, encompassing those holding legal, equitable, or beneficial interests in real property or housing cooperatives. Compliant operators generally ensure that all housing accommodations they manage — as defined in this section — meet the "decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters" standard and that no differential treatment occurs in any covered transaction.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Vandalia — Title 9 Ch. 9.28 Discrimination § 2.28.020 defines the terms that determine whether a tenant's housing situation is covered by the city's anti-discrimination protections. The broad definition of "housing accommodation" means most residential buildings and structures fall within the chapter's scope, and the definition of "discriminate" covers differential treatment in rental transactions based on protected characteristics. Tenants who believe they have experienced such differential treatment may find it useful to review these definitions, consult a tenant-rights organization, or explore complaint options available under the broader chapter.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.