Overview of Urbana's Human Rights Ordinance

The Urbana Human Rights Ordinance, Chapter 12 of Urbana City Code, prohibits discrimination based on a protected basis in many areas in Urbana.

Areas Covered by the Human Rights Ordinance

Employment: The Ordinance protects persons from discrimination in all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, selection, promotion, transfer, pay, tenure, discharge, and discipline.

Housing (Real Estate Transactions): It is unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental of residential or commercial property. Examples of such discrimination include:

• Altering the terms, conditions, or privileges of the transaction
• Refusing to receive or transmit a bona fide offer
• Refusing to negotiate or grant mortgage loans
• Misrepresenting a property's availability for rental or sale

Financial Credit: All financial institutions doing business in the City of Urbana are prohibited from discriminating in the granting of commercial or personal loans and credit.

Public Accommodations: It is unlawful for a public accommodation, such as a business, recreation, lodging, entertainment, or transportation facility, to discriminate in the full and equal enjoyment of facilities, goods, and services.

Retaliation: You cannot be harassed or retaliated against for filing a complaint or cooperating with a complaint investigation. Specifically, Chapter 12-104 of Urbana City Code states, "It shall be an unlawful practice for any person...to harass, intimidate or in any other way retaliate or discriminate against, or interfere with any individual because he/she has made a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article, whether on his/her own behalf or for another individual, or because he or she has told, objected to, or commented upon any policy, rule, action, or barrier to that which he or she in good faith believes violates this article."

Protected Basis under the Human Rights Ordinance:

• Race
• Color
• Creed
• Class
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex/Gender
• Age
• Marital status
• Personal appearance
• Sexual orientation
• Political affiliation
• Student status
• Source of income (ex: Section 8)
• Physical or mental disability
• Prior arrest or conviction record
• Or any categorization or classification that is not relevant to the opportunity