California Fair Housing Laws: Protections And Enforcement.pdf

# Fair Housing Fact Sheet

## Protection Under California Law
California law, enforced by the Civil Rights Department (CRD), safeguards individuals from illegal discrimination and harassment in housing based on various protected characteristics, including:
- Race, color, national origin, language use restrictions
- Ancestry
- Religion
- Sex, gender identity, expression
- Sexual orientation
- Marital status
- Military or veteran status
- Familial status (households with children under 18 or pregnant individuals)
- Source of income
- Disability (mental and physical)
- Genetic information
- Age, citizenship, primary language, immigration status

## CRD's Role
CRD enforces several key acts: Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Unruh Civil Rights Act, Ralph Civil Rights Act, Disabled Persons Act, and California Trafficking Victims Protection Act. They:
1. Investigate harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bias-motivated violence, and human trafficking complaints.
2. Assist landlords and tenants in resolving disputes related to law violations.
3. Prosecute court cases involving civil rights laws violations.
4. Educate Californians about their civil rights.

## Who Must Comply
California's fair housing laws apply to:
- Landlords, property management companies
- Homeowners associations, public housing authorities
- Real estate agents, home sellers, property insurers
- Builders, mortgage lenders, tenant screening companies
- Consumer reporting agencies

## Examples of Housing Discrimination
Discrimination based on protected characteristics is illegal in housing. Examples include:
- Refusing to sell/rent/lease a property
- Misrepresenting the availability of a housing accommodation
- Denying home loans or insurance due to protected characteristics
- Providing inferior terms or services
- Sexual harassment involving unwanted advances
- Terminating rental agreements unfairly
- Refusing to accommodate disabilities
- Discriminating against individuals with criminal records
- Advertising preferences for certain income sources

## Civil Remedies
If a housing provider violates FEHA, remedies may include:
- Making previously denied housing available
- Compensation for losses and emotional distress
- Training and policy changes to prevent future discrimination
- Eliminating the effects of discrimination

## Zoning and Land Use
Local governments cannot make zoning or land-use decisions that unlawfully discriminate against individuals based on protected categories.

## Filing a Complaint
Contact CRD at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess, 800-884-1684 (Toll Free), 800-700-2320 (TTY), or California Relay Service (711) for assistance.