Cal. Civ. Code § 49-2-602

Intimidation Or Interference In Right To Be Free From Housing Discrimination -- Penalties

In Force
Verified 10/22/2026 · Next check 11/21/2026
effective 10/22/2026MontanaProtected Classes (State/Local)

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 49-2-602
(1) It is unlawful for a person, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force to purposefully or knowingly injure, intimidate, or interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:
(a) a person because of sex, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin and because the person is or has been:
(i) selling, purchasing, renting, leasing, financing, or occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, lease, rental, financing, or occupation of any housing accommodation or property; or
(ii) applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling, leasing, or renting housing accommodations or property;
(b) a person because that person is or has been:
(i) participating, without discrimination because of sex, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1); or
(ii) affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection to participate in those activities, services, organizations, or facilities; or
(c) a citizen because the citizen is or has been, or in order to discourage that citizen or any other citizen from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1) or because the citizen is or has been lawfully participating in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate.
(2) A person who violates a provision of subsection (1):
(a) shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both;
(b) if bodily injury results, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; or
(c) if death results, shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-602 makes it unlawful for any person to use force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone because of protected characteristics—such as race, sex, religion, disability, or national origin—when that person is engaged in housing-related activities like buying, renting, leasing, or financing a home. The prohibition also covers interference with those who help others access housing opportunities or who engage in lawful speech and peaceful assembly opposing housing discrimination. Penalties escalate based on outcome: a basic violation can result in a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment; if bodily injury results, fines can reach $10,000 and imprisonment up to ten years; and if death results, imprisonment can extend to life.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 22, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-602, property owners and managers operating in compliance with Montana law refrain from any conduct—or from directing others to engage in conduct—that uses force or threats of force to discourage prospective or current tenants from exercising their housing rights based on protected characteristics. Compliant operators also avoid retaliating against individuals who assist others in accessing housing or who participate in lawful advocacy against housing discrimination. Because violations of this provision carry criminal penalties, including potential imprisonment, operators typically ensure that all staff and agents involved in leasing or property management understand the serious legal boundaries this statute establishes.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-602 provides that tenants and housing applicants have a protected right to pursue housing opportunities free from force or threats of force motivated by their race, sex, religion, disability, familial status, or other covered characteristics. If a tenant believes they have been subjected to intimidation or interference of this nature, they may consider reporting the conduct to local law enforcement or the Montana Human Rights Bureau, which handles housing discrimination matters in the state. Tenant-rights organizations can also help individuals understand what documentation and reporting options may be available under 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 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 22, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-510
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-305
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-505
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-504
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-510
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-505
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-506
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-305
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-504
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-501
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-305
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-4-203
Mont. Code Ann. § 49-4-203

Related Rules

§ 1
Definitions
§ 3
Functions, powers and duties of commission
§ 4
Unlawful practices

Source Information