Grand Rapids — Ch. 176 Human Rights § 9.960
Discriminatory Public Accommodation and Public Services Practices
Operative Text
(1) The opportunity to enjoy full and equal access to all public accommodations and public services 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. No person shall discriminate in making available full and equal access to all goods, services, activities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation. Public services shall include those provided in the public interest by the City to the people living within its jurisdiction, either directly or by contract. (2) Exceptions: (a) Public accommodations must be made accessible to individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), unless to do so would not be readily achievable due to cost, size and operation of the facility, and other factors. (b) An individual who displays offensive behavior, engages in disorderly conduct, or otherwise represents a clear threat to public health, safety, and welfare may be removed from, or prevented from entering, a public accommodation. (c) Based upon cost, need, availability, subscription, qualification under federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations, or other non-discriminatory factors, public services may not be available to all persons living within the city.
Grand Rapids Ch. 176 § 9.960 establishes that equal access to public accommodations and city-provided public services is a recognized civil right, and prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived membership in any protected class listed in § 9.955. The rule covers all goods, services, activities, and privileges offered at places of public accommodation, as well as services the City delivers directly or through contractors. Three narrow exceptions exist: ADA accessibility requirements apply unless compliance is not readily achievable; individuals posing a genuine threat to public health or safety may be removed; and certain public services may be limited based on non-discriminatory factors such as cost, eligibility criteria, or availability.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of places of public accommodation in Grand Rapids must ensure that all patrons and visitors receive full and equal access to goods, services, activities, and privileges regardless of their actual or perceived membership in a protected class under § 9.960. Compliant operators generally maintain ADA-accessible facilities to the extent readily achievable given cost, size, and operational factors, and apply any removal or exclusion policies uniformly based on documented conduct rather than protected-class characteristics. Policies governing eligibility, pricing, or service tiers should be grounded in neutral, non-discriminatory criteria to remain consistent with the exceptions outlined in § 9.960(2).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Grand Rapids Ch. 176 § 9.960, individuals have a recognized civil right to full and equal access to public accommodations and city services without discrimination based on actual or perceived protected-class status as defined in § 9.955. If a person believes they have been denied access or treated unequally on a prohibited basis, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Grand Rapids Human Rights Commission or consulting a tenant-rights or civil-rights organization familiar with local ordinances. Removal or denial of service is only permitted under the narrow exceptions stated in § 9.960(2), such as documented disorderly conduct or non-discriminatory eligibility requirements, not on the basis of protected-class membership.
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.
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