Brookhaven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 21A (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 21A-5
Financial assistance
Operative Text
No person, bank, trust company, private banker, savings bank, industrial bank, savings and loan association, credit union, investment company, mortgage company, insurance company or other financial institution or lender, doing business in the Town (and if incorporated, regardless of whether incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, the United States or any other jurisdiction), or any officer, agent or employee thereof, to which or to whom application is made for financial assistance for the purchase, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation or land shall: A. Discriminate against any such applicant or applicants because of the race, creed, color or national origin of such applicant or applicants or of any member, stockholder, director, officer or employee of such applicant or applicants or of the prospective occupants or tenants of such housing accommodation or land in the granting, withholding, extending or renewing or in the fixing of the rates, terms or donations of any such financial assistance. B. Use any form or application for such financial assistance or make any record of inquiry in connection with applications for such financial assistance which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination because of race, creed, color or national origin.
Brookhaven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 21A § 21A-5 prohibits any financial institution or lender doing business in the Town of Brookhaven from denying, altering, or conditioning housing-related loans or financial assistance based on the race, creed, color, or national origin of an applicant, their associates, or the prospective occupants of the property. The rule also bars lenders from using application forms or maintaining records that express any such discriminatory limitation. This applies to a broad range of entities — from banks and credit unions to mortgage companies and insurance companies — regardless of where they are incorporated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and developers seeking financing in Brookhaven should be aware that under ch. 21A § 21A-5, any lender they work with is prohibited from factoring race, creed, color, or national origin into lending decisions or documentation. Compliant lenders operating in the Town evaluate applications solely on lawful financial criteria and ensure that their forms and inquiry records contain no language that expresses or implies discriminatory preferences. Owners who encounter discriminatory lending practices in connection with housing in Brookhaven may have recourse under this local ordinance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Brookhaven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 21A § 21A-5, prospective tenants and occupants are among the protected classes whose characteristics cannot be used by a lender to deny or alter financial assistance for housing. If a tenant or applicant believes a financial institution has violated this provision — for example, by using discriminatory application forms or refusing financing based on the national origin of prospective occupants — general enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the Town of Brookhaven, contacting a fair housing organization, or consulting a tenant-rights group familiar with local anti-discrimination 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 November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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