source:
  type: regulation
  id: fha-42usc-3604
  authority: 42 USC § 3604 — Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices
  description: 'Fair Housing Act §3604 — the core discrimination-in-housing prohibition.

    Primarily addresses housing providers (sellers, landlords) but has

    direct lender relevance via (c) discriminatory advertising (no

    discriminatory statements in mortgage marketing), (f) handicap

    discrimination (no denial of dwelling/credit based on handicap), and

    cross-application to lender marketing materials referencing dwellings.

    Stronger lender-specific duties live at §3605.

    '
obligations:
- id: fha-42usc-3604-full
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-full
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604
  description: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted by sections 3603(b)
    and 3607 of this title, it shall be unlawful—
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted by sections
      3603(b) and 3607 of this title, it shall be unlawful—
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-a
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-a
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(a)
  description: '(a): (a) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse
    to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person
    because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status , or national origin.'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (a) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse
      to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any
      person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status , or national origin.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-b
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-b
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(b)
  description: '(b): (b) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of
    sale or rental of a dwelling , or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith,
    because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status , or national origin.'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (b) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of
      sale or rental of a dwelling , or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith,
      because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status , or national origin.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-c
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-c
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(c)
  description: '(c): (c) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice,
    statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference,
    limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap , familial status , or
    natio…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (c) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice,
      statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any
      preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap , familial
      status , or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-d
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-d
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(d)
  description: '(d): (d) To represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap ,
    familial status , or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental
    when such dwelling is in fact so available.'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (d) To represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap ,
      familial status , or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or
      rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-e
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-e
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(e)
  description: '(e): (e) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling
    by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons
    of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap , familial status , or national origin.'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (e) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling
      by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or
      persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap , familial status , or national origin.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-f
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-f
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)
  description: '(f): (f) (1) To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or
    deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of— (A) that buyer or renter, [1] (B)
    a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made
    available; or (C) a…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: (f) (1) To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or
      deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of— (A) that buyer or renter, [1]
      (B) a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or
      made available; or (C) any person associated with that buyer or renter. (2) To discriminate against
      any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling , or in the provision
      of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling , because of a handicap of— (A) that
      person ; or (B) a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold,
      rented, or made available; or (C) any person associated with that person . (3) For purposes of this
      subsection, discrimination includes— (A) a refusal to permit, at the expense of the handicapped
      person , reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person
      if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises except
      that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may where it is reasonable to do so condition permission
      for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition
      that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. [2] (B) a refusal to make
      reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may
      be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling ; or (C) in connection
      with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for first occupancy after the
      date that is 30 months after September 13, 1988 , a failure to design and construct those dwellings
      in such a manner that—
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: fha-42usc-3604-i
  canonical_id: fha-42usc-3604-i
  section: 42 U.S.C. §3604(i)
  description: '(i): (i) the public use and common use portions of such dwellings are readily accessible
    to and usable by handicapped persons; (ii) all the doors designed to allow passage into and within
    all premises within such dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by handicapped persons in
    wheelchairs; and …'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 42 USC § 3604(c)
    source_class: fair-housing-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/3604
    snapshot_id: 0f5c9e78054bf8a9
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a90f5c9e78054bf8a9
    paragraph_quote: '(i) the public use and common use portions of such dwellings are readily accessible
      to and usable by handicapped persons; (ii) all the doors designed to allow passage into and within
      all premises within such dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by handicapped persons
      in wheelchairs; and (iii) all premises within such dwellings contain the following features of adaptive
      design: (I) an accessible route into and through the dwelling ; (II) light switches, electrical
      outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations; (III) reinforcements
      in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and (IV) usable kitchens and bathrooms
      such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space. (4) Compliance with the appropriate
      requirements of the American National Standard for buildings and facilities providing accessibility
      and usability for physically handicapped people (commonly cited as “ANSI A117.1”) suffices to satisfy
      the requirements of paragraph (3)(C)(iii). (5) (A) If a State or unit of general local government
      has incorporated into its laws the requirements set forth in paragraph (3)(C), compliance with such
      laws shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of that paragraph. (B) A State or unit of general
      local government may review and approve newly constructed covered multifamily dwellings for the
      purpose of making determinations as to whether the design and construction requirements of paragraph
      (3)(C) are met. (C) The Secretary shall encourage, but may not require, States and units of local
      government to include in their existing procedures for the review and approval of newly constructed
      covered multifamily dwellings , determinations as to whether the design and construction of such
      dwellings are consistent with paragraph (3)(C), and shall provide technical assistance to States
      and units of local government and other persons to implement the requirements of paragraph (3)(C).
      (D) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require the Secretary to review or approve
      the plans, designs or construction of all covered multifamily dwellings , to determine whether the
      design and construction of such dwellings are consistent with the requirements of paragraph 3(C).
      (6) (A) Nothing in paragraph (5) shall be construed to affect the authority and responsibility of
      the Secretary or a State or local public agency certified pursuant to section 3610(f)(3) of this
      title to receive and process complaints or otherwise engage in enforcement activities under this
      subchapter. (B) Determinations by a State or a unit of general local government under paragraphs
      (5)(A) and (B) shall not be conclusive in enforcement proceedings under this subchapter. (7) As
      used in this subsection, the term “ covered multifamily dwellings ” means— (A) buildings consisting
      of 4 or more units if such buildings have one or more elevators; and (B) ground floor units in other
      buildings consisting of 4 or more units. (8) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to invalidate
      or limit any law of a State or political subdivision of a State , or other jurisdiction in which
      this subchapter shall be effective, that requires dwellings to be designed and constructed in a
      manner that affords handicapped persons greater access than is required by this subchapter. (9)
      Nothing in this subsection requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy
      would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would
      result in substantial physical damage to the property of others. ( Pub. L. 90–284, title VIII, §
      804 , Apr. 11, 1968 , 82 Stat. 83 ; Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 808(b)(1) , Aug. 22, 1974 , 88
      Stat. 729 ; Pub. L. 100–430 , §§ 6(a)–(b)(2), (e), 15, Sept. 13, 1988 , 102 Stat. 1620 , 1622, 1623,
      1636.) [1] So in original. The comma probably should be a semicolon. [2] So in original. The period
      probably should be a semicolon.'
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 42 U.S.C. §3604 from Cornell LII snapshot 0f5c9e78054bf8a9;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
