Fair Housing Laws

Discrimination in housing rental, sales and financing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, source of income, disability or familial status is prohibited by Federal (Fair Housing Act) and State law (Fair Employment and Housing Act).

The Fair Employment and Housing Act law applies to landlords, tenant screening companies, property management companies, real estate agents, home sellers, builders, mortgage lenders, and others. The law prohibits discrimination in all aspects of the housing business, including: renting or leasing, sales, mortgage lending and insurance, advertising, practices such as restrictive covenants, and new construction. Violations of the anti-discrimination law include the following:

• Refusal to sell, rent, or lease rooms, apartments, condos or houses to protected individuals
• Refusal to negotiate for the sale, rental, or lease of housing
• Representation that a housing accommodation is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when it is in fact available
• Denial of a home loan or homeowner’s insurance
• Cancellation or termination of a sale or rental agreement
• Policies, practices, terms, or conditions that result in unequal access to housing or housing-related services
• Offering inferior terms, conditions, privileges, facilities or services in connection with the housing accommodation
• Sexual harassment involving unwanted sexual advances or requiring sexual favors for housing rights or privileges
• Refusal to permit, at a disabled tenant’s expense, reasonable modifications when necessary to accommodate a disability
• Refusal to make reasonable accommodations in housing rules, policies, practices, or services where necessary to afford a disabled person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling
• Retaliation against someone filing a complaint
• Overly restrictive rules limiting the activities of daily life for families with children,   including where children are allowed to play

For more information on the Fair Employment and Housing Act, please contact Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) at https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/housing/..

Fair Housing Discrimination

The nonprofit organization, ECHO Housing, is committed to ending discrimination in housing by providing counseling, investigation, mediation, enforcement, and education through their Fair Housing Program. ECHO conducts investigations and enforcement in response to reports of housing discrimination complaints.  If you live in Emeryville and have experienced or witnessed discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability, children, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, source of income, or any other arbitrary characteristic, please contact ECHO Housing at 510-581-9380 or complete the online contact form at https://www.echofairhousing.org/contact.html.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI)

The city of Emeryville is a member of the Alameda County Urban Consortium, which is eligible to receive federal housing and community development funds. Alameda County as a recipient of federal funds,  is required to conduct an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) every five years.  The AI identified fair housing barriers and actions that the County will take to overcome historic patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination. To review the 2020-2025 report, click here. 

Tenant/Landlord Issues

To find more information and resources on tenant and landlord issues, please visit the Tenant Resources webpage. 

Civil Rights Discrimination

The City of Emeryville is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation or denied benefits from our programs, services or activities on the ground of race, color, or national origin, as stated in Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. If you believe your Title VI Rights have been violated by the City of Emeryville, you may use the form below to file a complaint with the City of Emeryville.