White Plains, N.Y., Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-1
General declaration of policy
Operative Text
(a) The common council hereby finds and declares it to be the public policy of the city to promote fair dealing in real estate transactions, to maintain community stability and security and to foster racial and social harmony, that no person which receives or expects to receive pecuniary gain from the sale or rental of real property shall: (1) Refuse to sell, lease, rent, furnish services, or otherwise deny or withhold any housing accommodation constructed or to be constructed in the city to any person, or refuse to negotiate for the sale, lease or rental of housing accommodation, or otherwise make unavailable to any person, by reason of the race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status of such person. (2) Represent to any person that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available. (3) Discriminate against any person because of his race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status in the terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodation. (4) Discriminate in the furnishing of information, services or facilities to any person in connection with the sale or rental of real property because of the race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status of such person. (5) Print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication, or use any form or application, for the purchase, lease or rental of any housing accommodation, or make any record or inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, lease or rental of any housing accommodation which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status, or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination. (6) Display listings or show prospective purchasers or renters units for sale or lease on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status, or display listings or show prospects units for sale or lease in areas of the city based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status. (7) Influence or attempt to influence any other person who purports or represents himself to be a prospective purchaser, seller, occupant or tenant or landlord of real property to purchase, sell or rent or to refrain from purchasing or renting or selling real property by referring to the race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status of occupants or prospective occupants of other real property in the area. (8) Induce a real estate transaction from which such person may benefit financially, by representing that a change has occurred or will or may occur in the composition of the area with respect to the race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status of the owners or occupants in the block, neighborhood or area in which the real property is located. (b) This policy shall not be construed to apply to: (1) The rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than two (2) families living independently of each other, if the owner or members of his family reside in one of such housing accommodations. (2) The restriction of the rental of all rooms in a housing accommodation to individuals of the same sex. (3) The rental of a room or rooms in a housing accommodation, if such rental is by the occupant of the housing accommodation or by the owner of the housing accommodation and he or members of his family reside in such housing accommodation.
White Plains Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-1 establishes the city's public policy against discriminatory practices in housing transactions. Under this provision, anyone who stands to profit from the sale or rental of real property is prohibited from refusing to deal, misrepresenting availability, or applying different terms based on a person's race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or marital status. The rule also bars steering, blockbusting, and discriminatory advertising. Certain small owner-occupied buildings and single-room rentals within an owner's own home are explicitly carved out from coverage.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who receive or expect financial gain from real estate transactions in White Plains must ensure their practices comply with White Plains Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-1. Compliant operators generally apply uniform criteria when advertising, showing, and negotiating for units, and they avoid any language or conduct—whether in listings, applications, or direct communications—that references protected characteristics such as race, creed, national origin, sex, handicap, or marital status. Operators also take care not to steer prospective buyers or renters toward or away from particular areas based on the demographic composition of those neighborhoods.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
White Plains Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-1 gives prospective and current tenants the right to be free from discriminatory refusals, misrepresentations about availability, unequal terms, and steering based on protected characteristics including race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or marital status. Individuals who believe they have experienced a violation may consider filing a complaint with a local or state fair housing agency, raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for general information about available remedies. Note that certain small owner-occupied buildings and rooms rented within an owner's own home are exempt from this provision's coverage.
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 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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