Housing Discrimination Ordinance
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Las Vegas Review-JournalHousing Discrimination Ordinance
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BILL NO. _______________________________
SUMMARY – An ordinance to amend Clark County Code
by the addition of a new chapter prohibiting discrimination
in housing on the basis of source of income or prior eviction
related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ORDINANCE NO. ________________________________
(of Clark County, Nevada)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CLARK COUNTY CODE BY THE
ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION
IN HOUSING ON THE BASIS OF SOURCE OF INCOME OR PRIOR
EVICTION RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND
PROVIDING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO.
Whereas, it is the public policy of the State of Nevada that all people in the State have
an equal opportunity to rent real property without discrimination;
Whereas, current state law provides protections for discrimination based on race,
religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, ancestry, familial status or sex; and
Whereas, discrimination on the basis of source of income presents a barrier to housing
for low income housing applicants; and
Whereas, many persons may be evicted due to loss of income from a business or
occupation adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board does hereby ordain as follows:
Economic Discrimination in Renting Ordinance – Page 1
SECTION ONE. There is a new section to the Clark County Code which shall read as
follows:
A person shall not, because of the source of a prospective tenant’s identified source of
income
1. Refuse to rent or refuse to negotiate for the rental of, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny, a rental dwelling to any person.
2. Discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions or privileges of rental
of a dwelling, including the amount of breakage or brokerage fees, deposits or other undue
penalties, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith.
3. Make, print or publish, or cause to be made, printed or published, any notice,
statement or advertisement with respect to the rental of a dwelling that indicates any
preference, limitation or discrimination, or an intention to make any preference, limitation or
discrimination. As used in this subsection, “dwelling” includes a house, room or unit
described in subsection 2 or 3 of NRS 118.060 and offered for rent.
4. Represent to any person because of the source of that person’s income that any
dwelling is not available for rental when the dwelling is in fact so available.
5. For profit, induce or attempt to induce any person to rent any dwelling by
representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of the source of
income of persons living in that neighborhood.
Economic Discrimination in Renting Ordinance – Page 2
6. Coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any person in the exercise or
enjoyment of, or on account of that person having aided or encouraged any other person in the
exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected in this chapter.
SECTION TWO. There is a new section of the Clark County Code which shall read as
follows:
A person shall not, because a prospective tenant had previously been evicted due to
that tenant’s business, occupation or source of income being negatively impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic, refuse to rent or refuse to negotiate for the rental of, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny, a rental dwelling to any person.
SECTION THREE. There is a new section of the Clark County Code which shall read as
follows:
In addition to the penalties provided in Chapter 1 of this Code, a landlord, housing
manager, rental agent or real property owner who has been determined to have violated a
provision of this chapter shall be reported to the Clark County Business License Department
and any applicable state licensing agency to determine if remedial or disciplinary action is
appropriate.
SECTION FOUR. If any section of this ordinance or portion thereof is for any reason
held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not
invalidate the remaining parts of this ordinance.
SECTION FIVE. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, chapters, sections, subsections,
clauses, phrases or sentences contained in the Clark County Code in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
Economic Discrimination in Renting Ordinance – Page 3
SECTION SIX. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its
passage and the publication thereof by title only, together with the names of the County
Commissioners voting for or against its passage, in a newspaper published in and having a
general circulation in Clark County, Nevada, at least once a week for a period of two (2)
weeks.
PROPOSED on the _____ day of _________________________, 2020.
PROPOSED BY: Commissioner ______________________________
PASSED on the _____ day of ____________________________ 2020.
AYES: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
NAYS: ______________________________________
_______________________________________
ABSTAINING:________________________________
ABSENT ____________________________________
_____________________________________
Economic Discrimination in Renting Ordinance – Page 4
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
By:____________________________________
MARILYN KIRKPATRICK, Chair
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Lynn Marie Goya, County Clerk