California Civil Rights Department, Housing Discrimination

For more information, please see CRD’s Fair Housing Factsheet and Fair Housing Booklet

Available Remedies

State law provides for a variety of remedies for victims of housing discrimination, including:

Recovery of out-of-pocket losses

An injunction prohibiting the unlawful practice

Access to housing that the landlord denied you

Damages for emotional distress

Civil penalties or punitive damages

Attorney’s fees

FAQ

What types of housing are covered by the Fair Employment and Housing Act?

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) covers the sale, rental, or occupancy of most housing accommodations in California, including single-family homes, multi-family homes, condominiums, apartments, short-term rentals, mobile homes, subsidized housing, dormitories, sober living facilities, group homes, residential motels, emergency shelters, homeless shelters, shelters for survivors of domestic violence, recreational vehicles (RVs) used as a home, farmworker housing, and boats used as homes.

Who must comply with the Fair Employment and Housing Act?

Most people and entities that are housing providers or who provide services related to housing must comply with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). This includes landlords, homeowners, apartment managers, real estate brokers, state or local governments, owners of short-term rentals, appraisers, tenant screening companies, homeowners associations, mortgage lending companies, and public housing authorities.

When an owner is occupying a home and is renting to one additional person, the owner may exclude applicants based on protected characteristics. However, the owner still cannot make, print, or publish discriminatory statements, notices, or advertisements.