Maryland Fair Housing Laws: Exam Study Guide

Maryland Fair Housing Laws: Exam Study Guide

Fair housing questions appear on both sections of the Maryland real estate exam. The national section tests the federal Fair Housing Act. The state section tests what Maryland adds — and the exam specifically tests the distinction.

Federal Fair Housing Act — 7 Protected Classes

The federal Fair Housing Act (1968) prohibits discrimination based on:

1. Race
2. Color
3. National origin
4. Religion
5. Sex
6. Familial status
7. Disability

These seven must be memorized. Memory aid: RRCNFSD.

Maryland Fair Housing — Additional Protected Classes

Maryland adds these protections beyond federal law:

• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Source of income (in certain jurisdictions — this varies by county and city)

The exam tests whether you know what Maryland adds. A question might describe discrimination based on marital status and ask whether it violates federal law, Maryland law, or both. The answer: Maryland law only (marital status is not a federal protected class).

Maryland Specific Rules

Source of Income. Maryland has moved toward protecting source of income (such as housing vouchers) in some jurisdictions. This means a landlord who refuses to rent to a voucher-holder may violate Maryland fair housing law in counties that have adopted this protection.

Commission Authority. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights enforces fair housing law in Maryland. MREC can also discipline licensees for fair housing violations.

Prohibited Practices

Under both federal and Maryland law: - Refusing to sell or rent based on a protected class - Misrepresenting availability - Steering (directing people to or away from neighborhoods) - Blockbusting (inducing panic selling based on neighborhood composition changes) - Discriminatory advertising - Refusing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities

Reasonable Accommodations vs. Reasonable Modifications

Reasonable accommodation — A change in rules, policies, or services to allow a person with a disability equal access (e.g., allowing a service animal in a no-pets building).

Reasonable modification — A physical change to the property made at the tenant's expense (e.g., installing a grab bar in the bathroom).

Landlords must allow reasonable modifications for persons with disabilities (tenant pays). They must also make reasonable accommodations in rules and policies.

Common Exam Mistakes

• Listing "marital status" as a federal protected class (it is not — it's Maryland-specific)
• Forgetting that familial status IS a federal protected class
• Confusing reasonable accommodation with reasonable modification
• Misidentifying the enforcement agency (it's the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights for state fair housing)

Practice Maryland Fair Housing Questions

[CARealestate.com/states/maryland](https://carealestate.com/states/maryland) has fair housing practice questions covering both federal and Maryland additions. 5 free questions — no signup needed.