Florida Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Explanation

Florida's Fair Housing Act provides additional protections beyond the federal law, including prohibiting discrimination based on marital status. Florida also prohibits age discrimination in housing (for persons 18 or older in some contexts). In Florida, fair housing protections are enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.

Explanation

Using different qualification standards for buyers or renters based on race or other protected characteristics violates the Fair Housing Act. All applicants must be subjected to the same objective criteria. In Florida, fair housing protections are enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.

Explanation

Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must allow assistance animals (including service animals and emotional support animals) as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, even in no-pet buildings. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers must grant reasonable accommodations necessary for a disabled person to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, provided the accommodation does not impose an undue burden. In Florida, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) enforces accommodation requirements under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Common examples include allowing service or emotional support animals in no-pet buildings and assigning accessible parking. Accommodations are changes to rules or policies, while modifications are physical changes to the unit.

Explanation

Advertising that expresses a preference based on a protected class is generally prohibited. An exception exists for qualifying senior housing (55+ or 62+) communities, which may lawfully advertise that they are restricted to older persons. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven. The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) enforces both federal and state protections under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, and pregnancy to the federal protected classes. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

Florida's Fair Housing Act covers all seven federal protected classes plus adds marital status as a protected class. Discrimination based on marital status (married, single, divorced, etc.) in housing transactions is prohibited under Florida law. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven. The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) enforces both federal and state protections under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, and pregnancy to the federal protected classes. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

Familial status (households with children under 18) is a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act. Refusing to rent to families with children violates fair housing law unless the property qualifies as legitimate senior housing (55+ or 62+ housing). 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 Florida, familial status protections are enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37).

Explanation

The Fair Housing Act includes an exemption for the sale of a single-family home by the owner without the use of a broker or discriminatory advertising, provided the owner does not own more than three homes. Steering, refusing reasonable accommodations, and charging different rents based on familial status are all prohibited. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, steering violates Section 804 by limiting housing choices based on protected-class characteristics. In Florida, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) enforces anti-steering provisions under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy 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

Steering is the illegal practice of directing buyers or renters toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on their protected class characteristics (race, national origin, religion, etc.). It is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, steering violates Section 804 by limiting housing choices based on protected-class characteristics. In Florida, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) enforces anti-steering provisions under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy 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 (also called panic selling or panic peddling) is the illegal practice of inducing homeowners to sell by suggesting that minority group members are moving into the neighborhood, implying a decline in 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 Florida, this is enforceable under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37) through the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). Blockbusting differs from steering in that blockbusting targets current owners to sell, while steering directs prospective buyers toward or away from neighborhoods.

Explanation

Redlining is the illegal practice of denying loans, insurance, or other financial services to residents of certain areas based on the racial or ethnic composition of those neighborhoods. It is prohibited under the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Redlining violates the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Community Reinvestment Act. In Florida, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) investigates redlining complaints under the Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §760.20–760.37). Unlike steering (which involves agents directing buyers), redlining is practiced by lenders and insurers who deny or limit financial services based on neighborhood demographics. Florida adds age, marital status, pregnancy as additional protected classes beyond the federal seven.