Scarsdale, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 185 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 185-2
Prohibited acts
Operative Text
A. No person or agent acting on behalf of another shall: (1) Refuse to sell, lease, rent or otherwise deny or withhold any unimproved land or any housing accommodation constructed or to be constructed in the Village of Scarsdale to any person; or refuse to negotiate for the sale, lease or rental of any unimproved land or housing accommodation to any person by reason of the race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or national origin of such person; or represent, because of the race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or national origin of the person that any unimproved land or housing accommodation is not available. (2) Discriminate against any person because of his race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in the terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any unimproved land or any housing accommodation constructed or to be constructed. (3) Print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publications or use any form or application for the purchase, rental or lease of any unimproved land or any housing accommodation or make any record of inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of any unimproved land or any housing accommodation which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or national origin or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination. B. No bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association or other financial institution to whom application is made for financial assistance for the purchase of unimproved land or any housing accommodation located in the Village of Scarsdale and no agent acting on behalf of such person shall discriminate against any applicant because of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or national origin, in the granting, withholding, extending or renewing or in the fixing of the rates, terms or conditions of any such financial assistance. C. No person shall aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce the doing of any of the acts forbidden under this chapter or attempt to do so. D. No person engaged in any activity to which this chapter applies shall retaliate or discriminate against any person because such person has filed a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this chapter.
Scarsdale, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 185 § 185-2 prohibits any person, agent, or financial institution from refusing to sell, rent, lease, or negotiate housing or unimproved land in Scarsdale based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin. The rule also bars discriminatory terms or conditions in housing transactions, discriminatory advertising or application forms, and the provision of financial assistance on unequal terms for the same protected reasons. Additionally, the provision forbids anyone from helping others commit these acts or retaliating against a person who files a complaint or participates in a proceeding under this chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 185-2, property owners and managers in Scarsdale are generally expected to apply consistent criteria when advertising, showing, negotiating, and setting terms for the sale or rental of housing, without regard to a prospective buyer's or tenant's race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin. Compliant operators typically review all advertising copy, application forms, and written communications to ensure no language — direct or indirect — signals a preference or limitation based on any of those protected characteristics. Operators also generally take care that any agents acting on their behalf follow the same standards, since § 185-2 expressly covers agents acting on behalf of another.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 185-2 of Scarsdale's Code of Ordinances gives residents and prospective residents the right to be free from discriminatory refusals, unequal terms, and misleading representations about housing availability based on protected characteristics such as race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin. Individuals who believe they have experienced a violation may consider documenting the conduct, filing a complaint through the Village of Scarsdale or a relevant state or federal fair-housing body, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for general information about available remedies. The provision also protects anyone who files a complaint or participates in a proceeding under ch. 185 from retaliation, which can itself constitute a separate violation.
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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