Vermont § 4503 - Unfair housing practices

§ 4503. Unfair housing practices

• (a) It shall be unlawful for any person: (1) To refuse to sell or rent, or refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise
  make unavailable or deny, a dwelling or other real estate to any person because of
  the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious
  creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or disability of a
  person, or because a person intends to occupy a dwelling with one or more minor children,
  or because a person is a recipient of public assistance, or because a person is a
  victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. (2) To discriminate against, or to harass, any person in the terms, conditions, privileges,
  and protections of the sale or rental of a dwelling or other real estate, or in the
  provision of services or facilities in connection with a dwelling or other real estate,
  because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status,
  religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or disability
  of a person, or because a person intends to occupy a dwelling with one or more minor
  children, or because a person is a recipient of public assistance, or because a person
  is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. (3) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice,
  statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling or other
  real estate that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on
  race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed,
  color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or disability of a person,
  or because a person intends to occupy a dwelling with one or more minor children,
  or because a person is a recipient of public assistance, or because a person is a
  victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. (4) To represent to any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
  age, marital status, religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration
  status, or disability of a person, or because a person intends to occupy a dwelling
  with one or more minor children, or because a person is a recipient of public assistance,
  or because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, that any dwelling
  or other real estate is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when the dwelling
  or real estate is in fact so available. (5) To disclose to another person information regarding or relating to the status of a
  tenant or occupant as a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking for the purpose
  or intent of: (A) harassing or intimidating the tenant or occupant; (B) retaliating against a tenant or occupant for exercising his or her rights; (C) influencing or coercing a tenant or occupant to vacate the dwelling; or (D) recovering possession of the dwelling. (6) To discriminate against any person in the making or purchasing of loans or providing
  other financial assistance for real-estate-related transactions or in the selling,
  brokering, or appraising of residential real property, because of the race, sex, sexual
  orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color, national
  origin, citizenship, immigration status, or disability of a person, or because a person
  intends to occupy a dwelling with one or more minor children, or because a person
  is a recipient of public assistance, or because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual
  assault, or stalking. (7) To engage in blockbusting practices, for profit, which may include inducing or attempting
  to induce a person to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding the entry
  into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, sex, sexual orientation,
  gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship,
  immigration status, or disability of a person, or because a person intends to occupy
  a dwelling with one or more minor children, or because a person is a recipient of
  public assistance, or because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. (8) To deny any person access to or membership or participation in any multiple listing
  service, real estate brokers’ organization, or other service, organization, or facility
  relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings, or to discriminate against
  any person in the terms or conditions of such access, membership, or participation,
  on account of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status,
  religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or disability
  of a person, or because a person is a recipient of public assistance, or because a
  person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. (9) To discriminate in the sale or rental of a dwelling because a person relies upon aids
  such as attendants, specially trained animals, wheelchairs, or similar appliances
  or devices but the owner shall not be required to modify or alter the building in
  any way in order to comply with this chapter. An owner shall permit, at the expense
  of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied
  or to be occupied by the person with a disability if the modifications are necessary
  to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises. The owner may, if reasonable,
  require the person to agree to restore the premises to the condition that existed
  before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted, but the owner may not
  require an additional security deposit for this purpose. (10) To refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services
  when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability equal
  opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit, including public and common areas. (11) To fail to comply with provisions or rules pertaining to covered multifamily dwellings,
  as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 2900(4) and pursuant to 20 V.S.A. chapter 174. (12) To discriminate in land use decisions or in the permitting of housing because of race,
  sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color,
  national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disability, the presence of one
  or more minor children, income, or because of the receipt of public assistance, or
  because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, except as otherwise
  provided by law. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section with respect to discrimination in
  sales and rentals of dwellings on the basis of age or on the basis of a person’s intention
  to occupy with one or more minor children shall not apply to the sale or rental of
  a dwelling in a housing complex: (1) intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older; (2) intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older
  per unit. This subsection shall only apply if the following conditions are met: (A) the housing complex has significant facilities and services specifically designed
  to meet the physical or social needs of older persons, or if it is not practicable
  to provide those facilities and services, that the housing complex is necessary to
  provide important housing opportunities for older persons; (B) at least 80 percent of the units are occupied by at least one person 55 years of age
  or older per unit, except that a newly constructed housing complex in which first
  occupancy will begin after enactment of this chapter need not comply with this subsection
  until 25 percent of the units are occupied; and (C) there are written and enforced policies and procedures that demonstrate an intent
  by the owner or manager to provide housing for persons 55 years of age or older; or (3) established under any federal or State program specifically designed and operated
  to assist elders, as defined in the federal or State program. (c) The housing exemption in subsection (b) of this section shall not fail to apply due
  to persons residing in such dwellings as of July 1, 1989, who do not meet the age
  requirements of subsection (b) of this section, provided that new occupants of such
  dwellings meet the age requirements of that subsection, and that unoccupied units
  as of July 1, 1989 are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet the age requirements
  of that subsection. (d) If required by federal law, the verification of immigration status or differential
  treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status shall not constitute a
  violation of subsection (a) of this section with respect to the sale and rental of
  dwellings. (e) For purposes of subdivision (a)(6) of this section, it shall not constitute unlawful
  discrimination for a lender to consider a credit applicant’s immigration status to
  the extent such status has bearing on the lender’s rights and remedies regarding loan
  repayment and further provided such consideration is consistent with any applicable
  federal law or regulation. (Added 1987, No. 74, § 1; amended 1987, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1989, No. 89, § 2; 1991, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 2007, No. 41, § 15; 2011, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 14, 2012; 2013, No. 31, § 11; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 32; 2019, No. 48, § 4; 2021, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 80, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023; 2025, No. 69, § 13, eff. July 1, 2025.)