Federal Fair Housing Act
The federal law banning housing discrimination — the full section index of 42 U.S. Code Chapter 45, linking each section of the official United States Code.
The Fair Housing Act, codified at Title 42, Chapter 45 of the United States Code (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3631), makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale, rental, financing, or provision of services connected to housing because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. Its protections reach homeowners and condominium associations acting as housing providers.
The chapter is organized into two subchapters — Subchapter I (the substantive prohibitions, administration, and enforcement) and Subchapter II (criminal penalties for intimidation). For a plain-language explanation of how the Act applies to HOAs, see How the Fair Housing Act Regulates Homeowners Associations. Each section below links to its current text on the official U.S. Code.
Subchapter IGenerally
| Section name | U.S. Code |
|---|---|
| Declaration of policy | § 3601 |
| Definitions | § 3602 |
| Effective dates of certain prohibitions | § 3603 |
| Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices | § 3604 |
| Discrimination in residential real estate-related transactions | § 3605 |
| Discrimination in the provision of brokerage services | § 3606 |
| Religious organization or private club exemption | § 3607 |
| Administration | § 3608 |
| Collection of certain data | § 3608a |
| Education and conciliation; conferences and consultations; reports | § 3609 |
| Administrative enforcement; preliminary matters | § 3610 |
| Subpoenas; giving of evidence | § 3611 |
| Enforcement by Secretary | § 3612 |
| Enforcement by private persons | § 3613 |
| Enforcement by Attorney General | § 3614 |
| Incentives for self-testing and self-correction | § 3614–1 |
| Rules to implement subchapter | § 3614a |
| Effect on State laws | § 3615 |
| Cooperation with State and local agencies administering fair housing laws; utilization of services and personnel; reimbursement; written agreements; publication in Federal Register | § 3616 |
| Fair housing initiatives program | § 3616a |
| Interference, coercion, or intimidation | § 3617 |
| Authorization of appropriations | § 3618 |
| Separability | § 3619 |
Subchapter IIPrevention of Intimidation
| Section name | U.S. Code |
|---|---|
| Violations; penalties | § 3631 |