Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9.5-10-1
Intimidation or interference with exercise of another's rights; classification of offense
Operative Text
Sec. 1. A person commits a Class A misdemeanor if the person, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force intentionally intimidates or interferes with or attempts to intimidate or interfere with a person: (1) because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin and because the person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in a service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or (2) because the person is or has been, or to intimidate the person from: (A) participating, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, in an activity, a service, an organization, or a facility described in subdivision (1); (B) affording another person opportunity or protection to participate in an activity, a service, an organization, or a facility described in subdivision (1); or (C) lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, in an activity, a service, an organization, or a facility described in subdivision (1).
Indiana Code § 22-9.5-10-1 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to use force or the threat of force to intimidate or interfere with someone's housing-related activities because of their race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. The law covers a broad range of conduct, including attempts to block someone from buying, renting, financing, or occupying a dwelling, as well as efforts to prevent people from helping others access fair housing opportunities. The prohibition applies regardless of whether the person acting does so under any official authority.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-10-1, property owners and managers are expected to ensure that no force or threats of force are used—by themselves or anyone acting on their behalf—to discourage prospective or current residents from exercising their housing rights based on protected characteristics. Compliant operators maintain environments where tenants, applicants, and housing advocates can participate in housing transactions and related activities free from intimidation. Operators who become aware of such conduct within their operations generally take prompt corrective steps to prevent violations of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 22-9.5-10-1 gives tenants and housing applicants protection against anyone who uses force or threats of force to interfere with their right to rent, purchase, or occupy a home because of a protected characteristic such as race, disability, or familial status. If a tenant believes they have experienced this type of intimidation, general enforcement paths include filing a fair housing complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or contacting a local tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance. Because this provision also classifies the conduct as a criminal offense, affected individuals may also have the option of reporting the conduct to local law enforcement.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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