California Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Explanation

The federal Fair Housing Act protects: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. Familial status, added by the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, protects families with children under 18, pregnant women, and anyone securing legal custody of a minor. Housing providers cannot refuse to rent, impose different terms, or restrict facility access based on the presence of children. The primary exemption is qualified 55+ or 62+ senior housing meeting specific federal requirements. In California, familial status protections are enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Explanation

California adds several protections beyond federal law, including source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ancestry. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) enforces both federal and state protections under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). California's FEHA is among the broadest in the nation, covering more protected classes than any other state. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

Steering is an illegal practice where agents direct buyers toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on race, religion, or other protected characteristics. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, steering violates Section 804 by limiting housing choices based on protected-class characteristics. In California, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) enforces anti-steering provisions under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven. Steering is distinguished from redlining, which involves lenders rather than agents denying services to geographic areas.

Explanation

Blockbusting (panic selling) is an illegal practice of inducing homeowners to sell by suggesting that minorities or other groups are moving into the area, thereby lowering property values. Blockbusting violates Section 804(e) of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits inducing sales by representing that protected-class members are moving into the area. In California, this is enforceable under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) through the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH). Blockbusting differs from steering in that blockbusting targets current owners to sell, while steering directs prospective buyers toward or away from neighborhoods.

Explanation

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits discrimination in lending based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or receipt of public assistance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) enforces both federal and state protections under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). California's FEHA is among the broadest in the nation, covering more protected classes than any other state. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

Redlining is the illegal practice of refusing loans, insurance, or other services to people in certain geographic areas based on race or other protected characteristics, regardless of individual qualifications. Redlining violates the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Community Reinvestment Act. In California, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) investigates redlining complaints under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Unlike steering (which involves agents directing buyers), redlining is practiced by lenders and insurers who deny or limit financial services based on neighborhood demographics. California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.

Explanation

The seven federal protected classes are: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. Occupation is NOT a federally protected class. Familial status, added by the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, protects families with children under 18, pregnant women, and anyone securing legal custody of a minor. Housing providers cannot refuse to rent, impose different terms, or restrict facility access based on the presence of children. The primary exemption is qualified 55+ or 62+ senior housing meeting specific federal requirements. In California, familial status protections are enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Explanation

Landlords may ask about income, rental history, credit, and ability to pay rent. Asking about marital status, children (familial status), or national origin violates fair housing laws. Familial status, added by the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, protects families with children under 18, pregnant women, and anyone securing legal custody of a minor. Housing providers cannot refuse to rent, impose different terms, or restrict facility access based on the presence of children. The primary exemption is qualified 55+ or 62+ senior housing meeting specific federal requirements. In California, familial status protections are enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Explanation

Fair housing law requires landlords to allow disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense. The landlord may require restoration of the property to original condition upon move-out. In California, fair housing protections are enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.

Explanation

The ADA primarily applies to commercial facilities and public accommodations (stores, offices, hotels, etc.). The Fair Housing Act covers residential properties for disability protections. In California, fair housing protections are enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). California adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and others as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.