1. Notes
9/2015
The Fair Housing Program
is currently funded by:
United States Department of
Housing & Urban Development
Baltimore City Dept. of Housing
Baltimore County Government
Harford County Government
Prince George’s County Government
2530 North Charles Street, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21218
Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.
Administration: 410-243-4468
Fair Housing: 410-243-4400
Tenant Landlord Hotline: 1-800-487-6007 (MD only)
Fax: 410-243-1342
www.bni-maryland.org
PROTECTING YOUR
RIGHT TO LIVE
WHERE YOU CHOOSE
FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM
Working for Justice in Housing
throughout Maryland Since 1959
Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.

2. Federal Protected Classes: race, color, gender, national origin, familial
status, and disability.
Maryland Protected Classes: marital status, gender identity, and sexual
orientation (and the federal protected classes).
In addition to the federal and state protected classes, these jurisdictions
have the following additional protected classes, including:
Baltimore City: age and ancestry
Baltimore County: age and creed
Cambridge: age, ancestry, and creed
City of Annapolis: source of income
City of Frederick: source of income
Frederick County: source of income
Hagerstown: age
Harford: age, creed, occupation, personal appearance, and political opinion
Howard County: age, creed, occupation, personal appearance,
political opinion, and source of income
Montgomery County: age, ancestry, creed, family responsibility, presence of
children, and source of income
Prince George’s County: age, occupation, personal appearance, and political
opinion
Rockville: age, ancestry, creed, and presence of children
For more information on protected classes, contact BNI at 410-243-4400.
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights
administers the state’s fair housing law.
Maryland’s fair housing law is essentially
identical to Federal Law plus marital status,
sexual orientation, and gender identity as
protected classes.
It is illegal for housing providers to refuse to
rent or sell housing because of the race, sex,
national origin, color, religion, familiar
status, or disability status of the applicant.
Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. works to
make sure that every Marylander has equal
access to rental housing and homeownership
opportunities.
WHAT IS FAIR HOUSING? .
DISABILITY & FAMILIAL STATUS
DEFINED
Disability: Federal laws define a person with a disability as "Any person who
has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more
major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as having
such an impairment."
In general, a physical or mental impairment includes hearing, mobility and
visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS
Related Complex, and mental retardation that substantially limits one or
more major life activities. Major life activities include walking, talking,
hearing, seeing, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, and caring for
oneself.
Familial Status: Federal law prohibits discrimination against children under
the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and
people securing custody of children under the age of eighteen (18).
WHAT DOES BALTIMORE
NEIGHBORHOODS, INC. DO?
If you believe you’ve been discriminated
against while trying to rent or buy a proper-
ty, you can call us at 410-243-4400.
We:
 Monitor federal, state and local compli-
ance of anti-discrimination laws that
pertain to the sale or rental of housing
 Detect and challenge discriminatory
housing practices
 Assist in obtaining appropriate corrective
action
 Encourage fair marketing and sale of
housing
 Combat inequitable housing policies and
promote open neighborhoods
 Participate in community education and
outreach projects
Community Education & Outreach
Fair Housing Specialists are available to
speak to your group or organization about
fair housing law and specific housing issues.
We can also team with a Tenant/Landlord
Counselor in order to provide a broader
presentation on laws governing renters in
the state of Maryland.
For Housing Providers
The Fair Housing department welcomes and
encourages questions on fair housing law
and outreach requests from landlords and
property managers. We also provide fair
housing training. For further information or
to arrange for a fair housing outreach at
your organization, please call 410-243-4400.
FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAW
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) administers the Federal
Fair Housing Law. The law is composed of
three components:
Civil Rights Act of 1866
 Provides that “All citizens of the U.S. shall
have the same right, in every state and
territory as enjoyed by white citizens
thereof to inherit, purchase, lease, sell,
hold, and convey real and personal
property.”
 Jones v. Mayer held that the 1866 Act
prohibits “all racial discrimination, private
as well as public, in the sale or rental of
property.”
Civil Rights of 1968
 Known as Title VIII, this Act prohibits
discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.
 Title VIII applies to the sale, lease, rental,
or financing of real property.
 Title VIII requires all persons to be treated
equally with respect to the terms and
conditions of purchase or rental.
1988 Amendment Act
 The 1988 Amendment Act expanded the
scope of Title VIII to include physical or
mental disability and families with
children and the application of Title VIII to
include appraising.
 The act creates substantial penalties that
can be imposed for violations of the Title
VIII.
PROTECTED CLASSES MARYLAND’S FAIR HOUSING LAW