Real Estate · State Fair Housing

How do many state fair housing laws compare to the federal Fair Housing Act?

Correct answer

Many states mirror the federal protected classes and add their own protected classes (such as age, marital status, source of income, or sexual orientation), so state protections can be broader

  1. A Fair housing applies only at the federal level
  2. B State laws always provide less protection
  3. C State law replaces federal law entirely
  4. D Many states mirror the federal protected classes and add their own protected classes (such as age, marital status, source of income, or sexual orientation), so state protections can be broader

Why this is the answer

The federal Fair Housing Act protects against discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Many states adopt these same classes and add others — common state additions include age, marital status, source of income, ancestry, sexual orientation, and gender identity — so state law often provides broader protection than the federal minimum. A licensee must comply with whichever law gives the greater protection. Because the additional protected classes vary widely by state, the state portion tests the general principle that state fair-housing law typically incorporates and may expand on the federal classes, rather than asking about any single state's specific list.
Source: Real Estate State Portion, State Fair Housing

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About this topic: State Fair Housing

State fair housing questions cover the protected classes the state adds to the federal list, state enforcement, and the practices and advertising language prohibited under state law. This is one of 4 Salesperson (State Law) questions on state fair housing, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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