[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Elm Grove 7-1-1968;
amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
It is the intent of this chapter to render discrimination
in housing unlawful. It is our belief that in a small community removal of
discrimination is best accomplished by education and quiet persuasion rather
than by court litigation; however, it is the declared policy of this village
that all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of
race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, and it is the duty of
this village to assist in the orderly prevention or removal of all discrimination
in housing.
B.
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit an
owner or his or her agent from requiring information concerning family, marital,
financial and business status but not concerning race, color or creed.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
To segregate, separate, exclude or treat any person unequally only
because of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation,
as defined in § 111.32(13m), Wis. Stats., handicap, sex or marital
status of the person maintaining a household, lawful source of income, age
or ancestry. It is intended that the factors set forth herein shall be the
sole basis for prohibiting discrimination.
Any improved property, including any mobile home as defined in § 66.058,
Wis. Stats., which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed
to be used or occupied as a home or residence.
Any residential lot upon which no permanent building or structure
containing living quarters has been constructed.
No person shall discriminate:
A.
By refusing to sell, lease, finance or contract to construct
housing or by refusing to discuss the terms thereof.
B.
By refusing to permit inspection or exacting different
or more stringent price, terms or conditions for the sale, lease or rental
of housing.
C.
By refusing to finance or sell an unimproved residential
lot or to construct a home or residence upon such lot.
D.
By publishing, circulating, issuing or displaying or
causing to be published, circulated, issued or displayed any communication,
notice, advertisement or sign in connection with the sale, financing, lease
or rental of housing which states or indicates any discrimination in connection
with housing.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Village Attorney.
The Village Attorney, upon receipt of a complaint verified by the complainant,
may issue a complaint if in his or her judgment an action of discrimination
is sustainable in court and will, giving due consideration to available state
and federal laws, assist in the elimination of discrimination. The complaint
may be filed in the Circuit Court seeking a temporary injunction or restraining
order pending final disposition of the complaint.
[Amended 7-26-2005]
Any person who willfully violates any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-16 of this Code, except that the forfeiture shall not be less than $100. Payment of any such forfeiture shall be stayed during the period in which any appeal may be taken and during the pendency of any appeal.
