What You Need to Know About Ohio’s Fair Housing Act

Federal and Ohio state laws make housing discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, and other protected classes illegal.

• Does Ohio have a Fair Housing Act?
• How to file a fair housing complaint in Ohio
• How to save money on home and renters insurance in Ohio
• FAQ

state laws make it illegal to deny someone housing based on protected classes like race, sex, disability, color, familial status, national origin, or military status.

Finding a new place to live is almost always stressful and time-consuming, but it’s especially so if you suspect someone is trying to deny you housing for arbitrary—and illegal—reasons. Unfortunately, not everyone providing housing plays by the rules—which is where state and federal fair housing laws come into play.

, is here with this introductory guide. Read on to get a sense of what Ohio’s fair housing laws are—and how you can submit a complaint if your housing rights have been violated.

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Housing in Ohio is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, as well as laws at the state level, including the anti-discrimination requirements outlined in

These laws prevent discrimination in the sale or rental of a home, as well as in obtaining financing for a home. They make it illegal to deny someone opportunities in these areas based solely on their race, national origin, color, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, ancestry, familial status, or military status .

Publishing an ad for a home sale or rental that demonstrates a preference of one group within a protected class over another

If you feel your housing rights have been violated based on these laws, you can file a complaint with the

Federal and Ohio state laws layout requirements for fair housing, and that includes those that make housing safe and enjoyable for individuals with one or more disabilities.

, one major component of this is making reasonable accommodations and modifications to a living space occupied by someone with a disability. Generally speaking, accommodations refer to adjusting policies, practices, and services, while modifications refer to physical changes to a dwelling structure to better accommodate an individual with a disability.

Accepting rent payments on a date that’s compatible with when an individual receives income assistance

If your landlord refuses to make reasonable changes to accommodate your disability, you can file a complaint under the Fair Housing Act .

If you’ve experienced housing discrimination in Ohio that violates state law, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) .

The OCRC says you’ll need to report the incident within a year of the date that it occurred. Ahead of filing a complaint, you can learn more about the process on the

or by calling your regional OCRC office . All regional offices can be reached by calling 1-888-278-7101 . Due to COVID-19, submitting housing discrimination complaints in person at regional OCRC offices is currently on pause.

After submitting a complaint, an investigator will be assigned to the case, who will mail letters and copies of the affidavit to both parties involved within two weeks .

As the investigation is underway, the investigator may ask you to provide additional information or documentation .

State-level housing discrimination complaints can be handled by the OCRC’s central office in Columbus or the

Finding good housing is hard enough as it is—who you are shouldn’t interfere with your right to choose a place to live that works for you. Once you do find the right place to live, the

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