Fair Housing – It's Your Right!
Fair housing refers to free and equal access to residential housing – i.e., housing choice. The federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of a person's race, familial status (presence of children under age 18), color, national origin, religion, disability (physical or mental), or sex. The New York State Human Rights Law protects all of the same characteristics as the federal Fair Housing Act but also makes it illegal to discriminate based on creed, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or military status. Orange County complies with the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. The County is committed to promoting fair housing choice for all people.
FAQ
Common questions
Most housing is covered by the Fair Housing Act. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by private clubs that limit occupancy to members. In New York State, fair housing laws cover most housing, with three main exceptions: One- or two-family owner-occupied buildings; Room rentals in housing for individuals of the same sex; and Room rentals in owner-occupied housing.