California Civil Rights Department, Housing Discrimination

Screening prospective tenants – including when done by a third-party such as a tenant screening company – in a way that discriminates based on a protected characteristic

Retaliation against someone because they filed a complaint with CRD, requested a reasonable accommodation for a disability, or otherwise tried to protect their rights to be free from housing discrimination

California law protects individuals from illegal discrimination and harassment by housing providers based on certain protected characteristics, whether or not someone actually has that characteristic or is perceived to have it. The law also protects against discrimination and harassment that is based on more than one, or intersecting, characteristics. Finally, California law protects people from discrimination and harassment that is based on the protected characteristic of their family member, friend, roommate, or any other associate.

Protected Characteristics

Protected characteristics include::

Race

Color

Ancestry

National origin

Citizenship

Immigration status

Primary language

Religion

Disability (mental or physical)

Sex and gender

Sexual orientation

Gender Identity

Gender Expression

Genetic information

Marital status

Familial status (families with children under 18 or people who are pregnant)

Source of income (including the use of government rental assistance such as a Section 8 Housing Choice voucher)

Military or veteran status

Age

FEHA also provides protections for people and circumstances related to protected characteristics, including:

the right to operate a licensed family childcare in a provider’s home

specific protections for people with criminal histories who are searching for housing