11 V.S.A. § ___ § 1607
Nondiscrimination
Operative Text
The provisions of 9 V.S.A. chapter 139 shall apply to all cooperative housing corporations in the State. (Added 1987, No. 254 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 16, 1988.)
Section 1607 of 11 V.S.A. ch. 14 extends Vermont's fair housing and nondiscrimination requirements — found in 9 V.S.A. chapter 139 — to cooperative housing corporations throughout the state. This means that the same protections against discriminatory practices that apply in other housing contexts also govern how co-ops operate, make membership decisions, and conduct their affairs. The provision ensures that cooperative housing is not treated as an exempt category under Vermont's civil rights framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and boards of cooperative housing corporations in Vermont must be aware that under § 1607, the full scope of 9 V.S.A. chapter 139 applies to their organization. Compliant co-ops generally review membership criteria, application processes, and governance policies to ensure they do not discriminate on any basis prohibited by Vermont's fair housing law. Boards typically document their decision-making processes to demonstrate that membership and housing decisions are made on lawful, nondiscriminatory grounds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 1607, individuals seeking membership or housing in a Vermont cooperative housing corporation have the same nondiscrimination protections as those in other rental or housing contexts, as provided by 9 V.S.A. chapter 139. If a co-op's membership or housing decisions appear to be based on a protected characteristic, affected individuals may have grounds to raise a violation under Vermont's fair housing framework. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with a relevant state civil rights body or consulting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance on available options.
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 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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