Fair Housing and Civil Rights Requirements
Federal and Minnesota protected classes
The federal Fair Housing Act covers race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity under current HUD interpretation), national origin, familial status, and disability. Minnesota's Human Rights Act (Minn. Stat. ch. 363A) adds state classes, including marital status, status with respect to public assistance, sexual orientation, and creed. Local ordinances in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and other cities often add more, such as source of income or age. In advertising, answer questions with objective facts and never signal a preference: 'perfect for young professionals,' 'no children,' or 'adult building' language is prohibited except in qualifying senior housing.
Prohibited practices include refusing to rent or sell, offering different terms, steering, blockbusting, redlining, and discriminatory advertising. Disability rules are heavily tested: reasonable accommodations (a policy change, such as allowing a service animal) are at the housing provider's expense; reasonable modifications (a physical change, such as a ramp) are usually at the tenant's expense, sometimes with restoration required. Service animals are not pets, and no pet fee or pet rent may be charged for them.
Traps
- Listing Minnesota classes as identical to the federal seven.
- Treating a request for a wheelchair ramp exactly like a request for a service animal.
- Believing a private owner-seller may advertise a preference - advertising is restricted regardless of exemptions.
- Ignoring testing evidence and record-keeping in complaint scenarios.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks whether a class is protected, check the source of law - federal, Minnesota, or local - because each layer can add classes.
Worked example
A tenant with a disability asks to keep a service dog in a no-pet building. The landlord must grant the accommodation, may not charge pet rent or a pet deposit, and should not demand medical records beyond reasonable verification of the disability-related need.