[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Pottsville 9-9-1980 as Ord. No. 278. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The City Council of the City of Pottsville, County of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, ordains that this chapter shall be known as the "Pottsville Open Housing Ordinance."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL HOUSING
Housing accommodations held or offered for sale or rent by a real estate broker, salesman or agency or by any other person pursuant to authorization of the owner, by the owner himself or by legal representative, but shall not include any personal residence offered for rent by the owner or lessee thereof or by a broker, salesman, agent or employee.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS
Includes:
A. 
Any building or structure or portion thereto which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as the home, residence or sleeping place of one (1) or more individuals, groups or families, whether or not living independently of each other; and
B. 
Any vacant land offered for sale or lease for commercial housing.
PERSON
Includes one (1) or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy or receivers. It also includes, but is not limited to, any owner, lessor, assignor, builder, manager, broker, agent, employer, lending institution and all political subdivisions, authorities, boards and commissions.
PERSONAL RESIDENCE
A building or structure containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than two (2) individuals, two (2) groups or families living independently of each other and used by the owner or lessee thereof as a bona fide residence for § 116-3, Discriminatory practices prohibited.
It shall be unlawful discriminatory practice for any persons to:
A. 
Refuse to sell, lease, finance or otherwise to deny or withhold commercial housing from any person because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex or national origin of any prospective owner, occupant or user of such commercial housing or to any person due to use of a guide dog because of the blindness of the user.
B. 
Refuse to lend money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of commercial housing from any person because of the race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex or national origin of any present or prospective owner, occupant or user of such commercial housing.
C. 
Discriminate against any person in the terms or conditions of selling or leasing of any commercial housing or in furnishing facilities, services or privileges in connection with the ownership, occupancy or use of any commercial housing because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex or national origin or any present or prospective owner, occupant or user of such commercial housing or to discriminate against any person in terms of leasing any commercial housing or in furnishing facilities, services or privileges in connection with the occupancy or use of any commercial housing due to use of a guide dog because of the blindness of the user.
D. 
Discriminate against any person in the terms or conditions of any loan of money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of commercial housing because of the race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex or national origin of any present or prospective owner, occupant or user of such commercial housing.
E. 
Print, publish or circulate any statement or advertisement relating to the sale, lease or acquisition of any commercial housing or the loan of money, whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise, for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance which indicates any preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based upon race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex or national origin or to print, publish or circulate any statement or advertisement relating to the lease of any commercial dwelling which indicates any preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based upon use of a guide dog because of the blindness of the user.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not exceeding six hundred dollars ($600.), plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of said fine or costs, shall be subject to a term of imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.