Housing Related Matters
Under Gainesville City Code (Chapter 8), it is illegal to deny anyone housing based on any of the following protected classes:
- Sexual orientation
- Race
- Color
- Gender
- Age
- Religion
- National origin
- Marital status
- Disability
- Gender identity/ expression
- Citizenship status
- Lawful source of income
- Veteran status
- Status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking
Housing providers are prohibited from doing the following based on a protected class:
- Refusing to rent
- Pursuing eviction
- Imposing different terms, conditions, or privileges
- Misrepresenting availability of a unit
- Using discriminatory advertising
- Harassing, degrading, or embarrassing a tenant
- Steering to a specific community or area
- Requiring disclosure of citizenship status
- Refusing to permit reasonable modifications based on disability
- Refusing to make reasonable accommodations based on disability
- Retaliating based on protected activity
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
Tenants living within the City of Gainesville have certain rights provided by the City Code of Ordinances in two broad categories – the right to rental housing without discrimination and the right to rental housing that meets minimum living standards. The linked document provides a summary of those rights.
Tenant Bill of Rights and Responsibilities PDF(PDF, 87KB)
Rental Housing Permits & Fees
On Sept. 17, 2020, the Gainesville City Commission adopted the Rental Housing Ordinance that established annual permits, inspections, minimum energy efficiency, life safety and property maintenance standards for all residential rental units within the city. The commission also enhanced anti-discrimination housing law by adding additional protected classes. The link below contains more information about the Rental Housing Ordinance and enhancements to anti-discrimination housing law including webinars and important FAQs.
Rental Housing Ordinance