Grand Rapids — Ch. 160 Discrimination in Real Property Transactions § 9.366
Discriminatory Financial Practices
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for a person to whom application is made for financial assistance in connection with a real estate transaction or for the construction, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance or improvement of real property, or a representative of such a person: (1) To discriminate against the applicant because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, disability, marital status, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of lawful income or public assistance recipient status. (2) To use a form of application for financial assistance or to make or keep a record or inquiry in connection with applications for financial assistance which indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to make a limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, religion, or national origin.
Grand Rapids Ch. 160 § 9.366 prohibits lenders and financial institutions from denying or otherwise discriminating in the provision of real estate-related financial assistance based on a broad set of characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, marital status, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity, and source of lawful income or public assistance status. The provision also bars the use of application forms, records, or inquiries that signal—directly or indirectly—an intent to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. In short, both the decision to grant financing and the paperwork used in that process must be free from discriminatory intent or effect.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Grand Rapids Ch. 160 § 9.366, financial institutions and their representatives that handle real estate loan or assistance applications are generally expected to evaluate all applicants on neutral, non-discriminatory criteria. Compliant operators review their application forms, recordkeeping practices, and inquiry procedures to ensure nothing in those documents signals a preference or limitation based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, national origin, or source of lawful income. Maintaining consistent, documented underwriting standards that apply equally across all protected classes is a hallmark of compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Grand Rapids Ch. 160 § 9.366 gives applicants for real estate financial assistance the right to be evaluated without regard to characteristics such as race, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or public assistance recipient status. If a lender's application form, recordkeeping practice, or stated reason for denial appears to reflect one of these protected characteristics, that conduct may constitute a violation of this provision. Individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory financial practices can explore options such as filing a complaint with a local civil rights or fair housing office, contacting a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with fair lending law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 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.