Fair housing
State fair housing protected classes
The rule in every state and DC, with the statute and how well each answer is verified. Click a state for its full page.
The federal Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability. Many states add more protected classes, such as source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status or military status. Cities and counties can add more.
What to check in your state
- Every protected class in your state and city.
- Whether source of income or voucher holders are protected.
- Whether criminal history screening is limited.
Common mistakes
- Advertising "no Section 8" where source of income is protected.
- Applying screening criteria differently from one applicant to the next.
What federal law adds
Related: Fair Housing Rules for Property Managers in 2026: What Changed · Tenant Screening Rules for Property Managers in 2026: FCRA Guide
| State | Rule | Details | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State law tracks the federal protected classes. | The Alabama Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. There is no statewide source of income protection. | Ala. Code § 24-8-1 et seq. Secondary source |
| Alaska | Adds marital status, changes in marital status, and pregnancy. | State law covers sex, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, physical or mental disability, color, and national origin. Federal law adds familial status. | AS 18.80.240 Checked against the official source |
| Arizona | State law tracks federal classes. Some cities add more. | The Arizona Fair Housing Act covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. Several cities add local protections, so check the city code where the property sits. | A.R.S. § 41-1491.14 Checked against the official source |
| Arkansas | State law tracks the federal protected classes. | The Arkansas Fair Housing Act covers race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. There is no statewide source of income protection. | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-123-201 et seq. Secondary source |
| California | Adds source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, genetic information, and veteran or military status. | Source of income includes Section 8 and other housing vouchers. Separate laws also bar asking about immigration status and limit criminal history screening. | Cal. Gov. Code § 12955 Checked against the official source |
| Colorado | Adds creed, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, ancestry, veteran or military status, and source of income. | Source of income includes housing vouchers. Some small landlords have limited exemptions from source of income rules. Not yet checked against the official C.R.S. text. | C.R.S. § 24-34-502 Secondary source |
| Connecticut | Adds lawful source of income, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, and victim status. | State law also protects ancestry and creed, and covers victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. Lawful source of income includes housing vouchers. | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46a-64c, 46a-81e Checked against the official source |
| Delaware | Adds creed, marital status, source of income, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, and housing status. | Source of income covers any lawful income paid directly or on behalf of a renter, including vouchers and other assistance. Owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units have a limited exemption. | 6 Del. C. §§ 4602, 4603, 4607 Checked against the official source |
| District of Columbia | Very broad. Includes source of income, sealed eviction records, homeless status, and more. | Protected traits: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, sealed eviction record, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, and homeless status. For voucher holders you cannot screen on income level or credit score unless federal rules require it. | D.C. Code § 2-1402.21 Checked against the official source |
| Florida | Same classes as federal law: race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, religion. | Florida law adds no source of income protection statewide. Some counties and cities have their own human rights ordinances, so check local rules before setting screening criteria. | Fla. Stat. § 760.23 Checked against the official source |
| Georgia | Same classes as federal law: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability. | Georgia adds no statewide source of income protection. Some cities and counties have their own ordinances. | O.C.G.A. § 8-3-200 et seq. Secondary source |
| Hawaii | Adds sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, ancestry, age, and HIV infection to the federal classes. | Owner-occupied buildings with two units or fewer, and renting up to four rooms in the owner's home, are exempt from § 515-3. Assistance animal verification is limited. We could not find a voucher or Section 8 protection in the current HRS chapter 515 text. | HRS §§ 515-3, 515-4 Checked against the official source |
| Idaho | Race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and disability. Familial status is protected only under federal law. | The Idaho Human Rights Act covers these classes in real estate transactions and requires allowing reasonable modifications for a tenant with a disability. Age is protected only in employment. Some cities have their own ordinances. | Idaho Code § 67-5909(8) Checked against the official source |
| Illinois | Broad. Includes source of income, immigration status, arrest record, order of protection status, and military status. | The Illinois Human Rights Act covers race, color, ancestry, national origin, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including gender-related identity), pregnancy, reproductive health decisions, military status, unfavorable military discharge, age (40 or older), order of protection status, marital status, arrest record, familial status, source of income, and immigration status. Suburban Cook County limits criminal history screening. Owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units and rooms in an owner's home are exempt from most housing provisions, though not from the ban on discriminatory ads. | 775 ILCS 5/1-103, 5/3-102, 5/3-106 Secondary source |
| Indiana | Race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin; ancestry under the state civil rights law. | Indiana's Fair Housing Act tracks the federal classes, and the state Civil Rights Law adds ancestry. An occupancy standard of two people per bedroom, not counting infants under one year, is presumed reasonable. | IC 22-9.5-5-1; IC 22-9-1-2; IC 32-31-8-7 Checked against the official source |
| Iowa | Race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability and familial status. | Gender identity was removed from the Iowa Civil Rights Act effective July 1, 2025, though federal law still bars sex discrimination. State law does not protect source of income, and cities cannot require landlords to accept vouchers. | Iowa Code 216.8; 364.3(16) Checked against the official source |
| Kansas | Race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin and ancestry. | State law adds ancestry to the federal list and requires reasonable accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities. | K.S.A. 44-1016 Checked against the official source |
| Kentucky | Race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability and national origin. | The Kentucky Civil Rights Act tracks the federal classes and adds no new ones for housing. Cities and counties may adopt broader rules under KRS 344.300; Louisville and Lexington have local ordinances that add classes such as sexual orientation and gender identity. | KRS 344.360 Checked against the official source |
| Louisiana | Race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, military status, and natural, protective or cultural hairstyle. | The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act adds military status and hairstyle to the federal classes. In buildings with six or more units, landlords also may not refuse, end or fail to renew a lease because a tenant is a domestic abuse victim (R.S. 9:3261.1). New Orleans has a local ordinance with more protected classes. | La. R.S. 51:2606; La. R.S. 9:3261.1 Checked against the official source |
| Maine | Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, receipt of public assistance and protection orders to the federal list. | Maine bars refusing to rent or setting different terms because someone receives public assistance, including housing subsidies such as vouchers. Inquiries about protected traits are also prohibited. | 5 M.R.S. 4581-A Checked against the official source |
| Maryland | Adds marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income and military status to the federal list. | Since October 1, 2026, landlords who use credit or income screening may not reject voucher holders based on income, credit score, or credit history from periods without a subsidy, subject to limited exceptions. | Md. Code, State Gov't 20-705; 20-705.1 Checked against the official source |
| Massachusetts | Adds many classes, including people who receive housing subsidies. | State law covers race, religious creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, veteran or military status, disability, children, and receipt of public assistance or housing subsidies. You cannot turn down a voucher holder because of the voucher or the program's requirements. | G.L. c. 151B, § 4(6), (10), (11) Checked against the official source |
| Michigan | Adds age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and source of income (landlords with 5 or more units). | The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act housing section covers religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status and marital status, and a separate act covers disability. Since April 2, 2025, landlords with 5 or more rental units (counting related entities) may not discriminate based on source of income, and must count vouchers or subsidies when applying income minimums. | MCL 37.2502 (as amended by 2024 PA 180) Checked against the official source |
| Minnesota | Adds creed, marital status, public assistance status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. | The Minnesota Human Rights Act covers race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, and familial status. Landlords must also accept an ITIN instead of a Social Security number on applications. | Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.09, 504B.117 Checked against the official source |
| Mississippi | No broad state fair housing law confirmed; federal law applies. | We could not confirm a general Mississippi fair housing statute that adds protected classes. Follow the federal Fair Housing Act. | Not yet verified |
| Missouri | Adds ancestry; otherwise mirrors federal classes. | The Missouri Human Rights Act covers race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, and familial status. Local governments may not require landlords to accept housing vouchers, but may protect tenants receiving veterans' benefits. | RSMo §§ 213.040, 441.043 Checked against the official source |
| Montana | Adds age, marital status, and creed. | The Montana Human Rights Act covers sex, marital status, race, creed, religion, color, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, and national origin. A 2023 law, amended in 2025, sets what documentation a landlord may request for emotional support animals. | MCA 49-2-305; MCA 70-24-114 Checked against the official source |
| Nebraska | Adds military or veteran status to the federal classes. | The Nebraska Fair Housing Act covers race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, and military or veteran status. Military or veteran status was added by LB 150, operative September 3, 2025. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-318 Checked against the official source |
| Nevada | Adds sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and ancestry to federal classes. | State list: race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, familial status and sex. Source of income is not on the state list. | NRS 118.100 Checked against the official source |
| New Hampshire | Adds age, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity. | State list: age, sex, gender identity, race, religion or creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, national origin and sexual orientation. Owner-occupied buildings of up to 4 units are exempt except for discriminatory advertising. | RSA 354-A:8, 354-A:10, 354-A:15 Checked against the official source |
| New Jersey | Adds source of lawful income, marital, civil union and domestic partnership status, gender identity, military service, and more. | The Law Against Discrimination covers race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, nationality, marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sex, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, familial status, disability, service or liability for service in the U.S. Armed Forces, and source of lawful income used for rent (including vouchers). The Fair Chance in Housing Act bars criminal history questions before a conditional offer. | N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(g), 46:8-55 Checked against the official source |
| New Mexico | Adds ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, spousal affiliation and military status. | State housing list: race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy and childbirth, spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, and military status (added May 15, 2024). Familial status is not on the state list but federal law covers it. | NMSA 28-1-7(G); 28-1-9 Checked against the official source |
| New York | Adds lawful source of income, age, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, military status and more. | State list: race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, sex, age, disability, marital status, domestic violence victim status, lawful source of income (including vouchers) and familial status. Owner-occupied two-family homes are exempt. NYC law adds more. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(5)(a) Checked against the official source |
| North Carolina | Same classes as federal law. | State list: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition and familial status. Owner-occupied buildings of up to 4 units are exempt. Local source-of-income protections are preempted. | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 41A-4, 41A-6 Checked against the official source |
| North Dakota | Adds age, marital status and public assistance status to federal classes. | State list: race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, national origin, and status with respect to marriage or public assistance. Owner-occupied buildings of up to 4 units are exempt. | N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-02, 14-02.5-09 Checked against the official source |
| Ohio | Adds ancestry and military status to federal classes. | Ohio law covers race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, and national origin. Some cities add more, such as source of income. | Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H) Checked against the official source |
| Oklahoma | Adds age to the federal protected classes. | Oklahoma's fair housing law covers race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, familial status and disability. A separate law bars denying or ending a tenancy because someone is a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking. | 25 O.S. § 1452; 41 O.S. § 113.3 Checked against the official source |
| Oregon | Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and source of income (including housing vouchers). | You may still deny based on past conduct consistent with fair housing law or inability to pay, but you must count housing assistance toward the rent. A 2025 law (SB 599) bars discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status. | ORS 659A.421 Checked against the official source |
| Pennsylvania | Adds ancestry, age, and use of guide or support animals. Sex includes sexual orientation and gender identity by regulation. | The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act covers race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, and use of guide or support animals. Commission regulations define sex to include gender identity or expression and sexual orientation. Since January 24, 2026, race includes hair texture and protective hairstyles, and religious creed includes religious head coverings and hairstyles. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh add source of income and more. | 43 P.S. §§ 954(bb), (cc), (dd), 955(h); 16 Pa. Code § 41.206 Checked against the official source |
| Rhode Island | Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, lawful source of income, military status, age, and domestic abuse victim status. | Lawful source of income includes housing assistance. Landlords may not ask about immigration or citizenship status, though they may verify identity and finances (2025 law). | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-37-4, 34-18-62 Checked against the official source |
| South Carolina | Same classes as federal law. | South Carolina's fair housing law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability (handicap). | S.C. Code § 31-21-40 Checked against the official source |
| South Dakota | Adds creed and ancestry to federal classes. | South Dakota law covers race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, familial status and national origin. Leases may not allow eviction for calling police about domestic abuse, sexual violence or stalking. | SDCL 20-13-20, 43-32-18.1 Checked against the official source |
| Tennessee | Race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. | Tennessee rewrote its Human Rights Act in 2025; the housing section now lists these classes. Owner-occupied buildings with two units or fewer and renting a single room in the owner's home are exempt, as are some religious organizations. There is no statewide source of income protection. | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 4-21-601, 4-21-602 (as replaced by Pub. Ch. 471, 2025) Checked against the official source |
| Texas | Same classes as federal law; cities cannot require landlords to accept vouchers. | Texas protects race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. State law bars cities and counties from banning source-of-income refusals, except for veterans' income. | Tex. Prop. Code § 301.021; Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 250.007 Checked against the official source |
| Utah | Adds source of income, sexual orientation, and gender identity to federal classes. | Utah's Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, source of income, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. | Utah Code § 57-21-5 Checked against the official source |
| Vermont | Many classes beyond federal law, including public assistance, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, and immigration status. | Also protected: having minor children and being a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. Public assistance includes housing assistance, so refusing voucher holders is covered. | 9 V.S.A. §§ 4501(6), 4503 Checked against the official source |
| Virginia | Adds source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, and elderliness. | Source of funds includes housing vouchers and any lawful assistance program. Disability is also protected. | Va. Code §§ 36-96.1:1, 36-96.3 Checked against the official source |
| Washington | Adds marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or immigration status, military or veteran status, and source of income. | Families with children and use of a service animal are also protected. Source of income includes vouchers and other benefits. | RCW 49.60.222; RCW 59.18.255 Checked against the official source |
| West Virginia | Adds ancestry and blindness to the federal classes. | Protected: race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, familial status, blindness, disability, and national origin. The Fair Housing Act was recodified in 2024 as W. Va. Code § 16B-18-1 et seq. | W. Va. Code § 16B-18-5 (2024 SB 300) Checked against the official source |
| Wisconsin | Adds sexual orientation, marital status, lawful source of income, age, ancestry, and domestic abuse victim status. | Also protected: sex, race, color, disability, religion, national origin, and family status. Coverage extends to owner-occupied single-family homes. | Wis. Stat. § 106.50 Checked against the official source |
| Wyoming | Same classes as federal law. | The Wyoming Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. | Wyo. Stat. § 40-26-103 Checked against the official source |
Laws change. Each rule shows its source and the date it was last checked. Read the statute and talk to a local attorney before acting.
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