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Fair Housing

Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant Brochures

What is Fair Housing?              

Fair Housing is the right to equal opportunity in housing.  It is supported by the federal Fair Housing Act and additional Ohio state protections to prevent housing discrimination.  According to federal and Ohio Fair Housing laws, every person is assured of the opportunity to build a better life in the home or apartment of their choice.  It is illegal to discriminated based on any of the following protected classes:
  • Disability
  • Familial Status (families with children under 18 or those expecting a child)
  • Race
  • Sex
  • Religion
  • National Origin
  • Color
  • Ancestry (Ohio)
  • Military (Ohio)

Age is NOT a protected class. Fair Housing laws cover most housing, including apartment complexes, single family homes, condominiums, dormitories, manufactured homes and others.

What rights do you have under Fair Housing laws?

Persons with disabilities also have the right to request reasonable accommodations in order to provide equal access and enjoyment to housing opportunity.  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 organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

If You Think Your Rights Have Been Violated . . .

Contact the local HUD Office nearest you or if you wish you may call that office directly.  Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY may call those offices through the toll free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 or

For further assistance with Fair Housing or information on how to file a complaint please contact:
Barbara Sferra, CDBG Specialist
Portage County Regional Planning Commission
449 South Meridian Street, 6th Floor, Ravenna, Ohio 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3537
Email: bsferra@pcrpc.org
 Fair Housing Brochures