White Plains, N.Y., Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-24
Exceptions
Operative Text
(a) Nothing in this article shall 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. (b) This article shall in no manner prevent the requirement for additional structural, emergency alarm and/or fire prevention precautions as may be required by any ordinance, nor shall it be interpreted to prevent enforcement of local building code and zoning requirements and use limitations for special residence facilities, as defined by local law, nor shall this article be interpreted to allow for any unilateral change in occupancy or creation of special occupancy uses licensed or regulated by the state, without first obtaining all required permits and certificates of occupancy to ascertain full compliance with local laws and building codes. (c) Nothing in this article shall require an owner to offer for sale or lease real property to the public at large, nor shall this article be deemed to prohibit discrimination for any reason other than race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status and not otherwise prohibited by law.
White Plains Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-24 carves out several situations where the anti-discrimination article does not apply, including owner-occupied two-family homes, same-sex room rentals, and rooms rented within an owner- or occupant-occupied unit. The provision also clarifies that the article does not override local building codes, zoning rules, or state-licensed occupancy requirements, and does not compel owners to offer property to the general public. Discrimination protections under this article are limited to the specific categories listed — race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap, and marital status — and do not extend beyond what is otherwise prohibited by law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under White Plains Mun. Code ch. 4-19 § 4-19-24, operators of owner-occupied two-family properties, or those renting rooms within their own residence, generally fall outside the scope of the article's anti-discrimination requirements. Compliant operators still ensure that any rental activity meets local building codes, zoning regulations, and state occupancy licensing rules, since this provision explicitly preserves those obligations. Owners should also be aware that the exemptions here are narrowly defined and do not override any other applicable fair housing laws at the state or federal level.
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 § 4-19-24 identifies specific housing situations — such as owner-occupied two-family homes and room rentals within an owner's own residence — where the article's protections may not apply to a tenant's situation. Tenants who believe they have experienced discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or marital status outside these exemptions may have grounds to raise a violation under the broader article. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing applicable state and federal fair housing laws can help clarify whether additional protections apply beyond those addressed in this provision.
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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