Discrimination / Fair Housing

Fair housing laws protect tenants, manufactured (mobile) home park residents, homeowners and prospective homebuyers from discrimination against certain characteristics, called “protected classes.”

Federally Protected Classes - Everywhere in the US

• Race
• Color
• National Origin
• Religion
• Sex (including Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity)
• Familial Status
• Disability

Ohio’s Additional Protected Classes - Everywhere in Ohio

• Ancestry
• Military Status

Locally Protected Classes (Only in Some Communities)

Some Ohio cities and villages have included additional protected classes in local law. The following 24 Ohio municipalities currently prohibit “source of income discrimination” against tenants who receive HUD vouchers and other forms of public assistance: Akron, Athens, Bexley,

Chauncey, Cincinnati, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Dayton, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Linndale, Lorain, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, South Euclid, Toledo, University Heights, Upper Arlington, Warrensville Heights, Westerville, Whitehall, Wickliffe, Worthington, Yellow Springs. 

For more information about Fair Housing and reporting discrimination, visit the following.

Ohio Legal Help

• Local Services Finder

Housing Discrimination also can be reported directly to HUD and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission