[HISTORY: Adopted by Board of Trustees of the Charter Township of
Northville 7-11-1991 as Ch. 28 of the Code of Ordinances;
Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is unlawful for an owner, lessee or sublessee of real property or
an agent or representative thereof to refuse to sell, exchange, rent or lease
any housing accommodation or living quarters of any sort within the Township
of Northville because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex,
height, weight, familial status or marital status.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to discriminate in
the lending of money, guaranteeing of loans, accepting of mortgages or otherwise
making available finds for the purchase, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation,
repair or maintenance of any housing accommodations or living quarters of
any sort within the Township because of religion, race, color, national origin,
age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status.
It is unlawful for any real estate broker or salesman to refuse to accept
or convey offers to purchase, offers to lease or any other proposed agreements
with reference to the sale, exchange or lease of real property within the
Township because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height,
weight, familial status or marital status.
It is unlawful for any owner, lessee or sublessee of real property or
any other person concerned with transactions in real property to discriminate
because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight,
familial status or marital status with reference to the terms, conditions
or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodations or
living quarters of any sort within the Township or in the furnishing of facilities
or services in connection therewith.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to publish, circulate,
issue or display or cause to be published, circulated, issued or displayed
any communication, notice, advertisement or sign of any kind relating to the
sale, rental or lease of real property within the Township indicating exclusive
of or preference for any person or group of persons based upon religion, race,
color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital
status.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to knowingly or intentionally
present false or substantially misleading statements to the authorities charged
with enforcement of this chapter or to sign a complaint for violation of this
chapter based upon false or substantially misleading information.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation by threats, intimidation,
coercion, extortion or conspiracy to induce or attempt to induce any person
owning an interest in real property in the Township to violate the provisions
of this chapter.
The provisions of §§
125-1 and
125-4 of this chapter shall not apply to the owner of a dwelling house, apartment building or multiple-housing facility of any sort in which said owner or member of his immediate family resides who rents or leases three or fewer housing units in said in said dwelling house, apartment building or multiple-housing facility.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any person,
firm or corporation from imposing any and all conditions and requirements
relative to any of the transactions herein described, provided that such conditions
do not concern religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight,
familial status or marital status and provided that such conditions are imposed
uniformly regardless of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex,
height, weight, familial status or marital status. Nothing in this chapter
shall be construed as prohibiting the owner, lessee or sublessee of real property
or any person, firm or corporation concerned in real estate transactions from
exercising absolute discretion in establishing property or in any transactions
involving real property, provided that such terms and conditions do not concern
religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial
status or marital status. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring
an owner, lessee or sublessee of real property to offer said property to the
public at large before selling or renting same.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be responsible for a municipal civil infraction, subject to the following
penalties:
A. The following civil fines shall apply in the event of
a determination of responsibility for a municipal civil infraction, unless
a different fine is specified in connection with a particular section:
(1) First offense. The civil fine for a first offense violation
shall be in the amount of not less than $150, plus costs and other sanctions,
for each offense.
(2) Repeat offense. The civil fine for any offense which
is a repeat offense shall be in an amount of not less than $300, plus costs
and other sanctions for each offense.
B. In addition to ordering the defendant determined to be
responsible for a municipal civil infraction to pay a civil fine, costs, damages
and expenses, the Judge or Magistrate shall be authorized to issue any judgment,
writ or order necessary to enforce, or enjoin violation of, the chapter.
C. Continuing offense. Each act of violation, and on each
day upon which any such violation shall occur, shall constitute a separate
offense.
D. Remedies not exclusive. In addition to any remedies provided
for by the Code of the Charter Township of Northville, any equitable or other
remedies available may be sought.
E. The Judge or Magistrate shall be authorized to impose
costs, damages and expenses as provided by the law.
F. A municipal civil infraction shall not be a lesser included
offense of a criminal offense or of an ordinance violation which is not a
civil infraction.