Grand Rapids — Ch. 176 Human Rights § 9.958

(1) The opportunity to purchase, lease, rent, sell, use, convey, and finance housing without discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class as identified in Section 9.955 of this Chapter is hereby recognized and declared to be a civil right.
(2) The provisions of Chapter 160 of the City Code shall apply to discriminatory housing practices, including but not limited to those provisions governing discriminatory housing and financial practices, exceptions, blockbusting, and violations.
(3) In addition to the exemptions contained in Chapter 160 of the City Code, the following considerations may result in exceptions to discriminatory housing practices:
(a) Safety. Any decision based upon the reasonable and well-substantiated belief that an individual's physical or mental health poses a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the individual, other residents, or other persons
(b) Conviction Record. History of criminal conviction may be considered in housing decisions, although arrest with no conviction may not be considered. An outright ban on prospective tenants with a criminal background is prohibited. Landlords must carefully consider, on a case-by-case basis, the nature and severity of the crime, the age of the individual at the time of the crime, whether there have been repeat offenses, whether the individual maintained a good tenant history before or after the conviction, evidence of rehabilitation efforts, and whether the crime for which the individual was convicted may pose a demonstrable risk to the health, safety or welfare of other residents or persons (which would include manufacturing or distributing illegal drugs) or to property.
(c) Competence. Any decision which is based upon the reasonable and well-substantiated belief that an individual is incapable of satisfactorily fulfilling reasonable responsibilities associated with the housing arrangement.
(d) The following are not legitimate exceptions:
i. The anticipated or actual objections of other residents, neighbors, or persons.
ii. Mere inconvenience, less than an undue hardship, to a housing agent in procuring or providing reasonable aid to a member of a protected class to accommodate that individual's needs.