​The Fair Housing Act ensures that all persons receive equal housing opportunities. The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing and/or housing related services based on a person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. 

Fair Housing Rights and Obligations include: It is illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing, including against individuals seeking a mortgage or housing assistance, or in other housing-related activities. 

Description of Protected Classes (Examples are not all inclusive)

• Race: 
  It would be illegal to deny someone a housing opportunity because they are black or white.
• Color: 
  Some people have darker complexions than other.  It would be illegal to deny someone a housing opportunity on that basis.
• Religion: 
  A housing provider could not refuse to sell or rent to someone because of their religious beliefs or practices.
• National origin: 
  A housing provider could not refuse to sell or rent to someone because they are perceived to be from another country.
• Sex: 
  Except for shared living spaces it would be illegal to rent to one sex and not the other.
• Familial Status: 
  Familial status means having children who are under eighteen. Unless a facility is a senior/retirement facility one may not refuse to rent to families with children. Senior and retirement facilities for individuals over 55 or 62 may however lawfully refuse to rent to families with children.
  
  In terms of occupancy standards as they relate to families and children, the general guideline is that housing providers' policies, procedures and practices should not negatively impact families with children and discourage their occupancy. Additionally, housing providers should not dictate which bedrooms younger children of different sexes sleep as this is a parental matter. Nor should a housing provider dictate what floor families with children should live on.

• Disability: 
  It would be illegal to deny a housing opportunity to individuals with disabilities. A housing provider could not refuse to allow a reasonable modification requested by a person with a disability; a housing provider could not refuse to make a reasonable accommodation requested for a person with a disability; and it is illegal to charge a pet deposit or deny a service assist animal to assist a person with a disability.