Fair Housing

Photo of Equal Housing Opportunity Logo

Equal access to housing for all is a right protected by law. Fair Housing laws allow you to obtain the housing of your choice, free from illegal discrimination.

Practicing Fair Housing

The City of San Diego is committed to furthering fair housing efforts by promoting fair and equal housing opportunities for its residents. It is committed to highlighting the Fair Housing Law, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by continuing to address discrimination in our community and to support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities.

It is the City's policy to provide services without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, familial status, source of income, sexual orientation or disability. This commitment extends to all programs provided by the City.

Fair housing can be defined as a condition in which individuals of similar income levels in the same housing market have a like range of housing choice available to them regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, familial status, source of income, sexual orientation or disability.

Housing discrimination is unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals, in the area of housing and real estate, based on the individual's protected class.

The right to fair housing is assured by a variety of federal, state, and local laws, primarily the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the City of San Diego's Municipal Code which make it unlawful to discriminate in renting, selling, financing, and insuring housing.

If you believe you have been denied housing or the opportunity to apply for housing in the City because of a protected characteristic, contact the City's Fair Housing Hotline at 1-844-449-3500.

You are protected by federal, state and city law.

Fair Housing Hotline 1-844-449-3500

Common Violations of Fair Housing Law

Report Violations

The City has engaged Legal Aid Society of San Diego Inc. to provide FREE community outreach and legal services.

Fair Housing Center
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO INC. 110 S. Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114

If you think you have experienced housing discrimination or harassment, contact the Fair Housing Center within one year of the incident. Follow these steps:

  1. Call the Fair Housing Hotline at 1-844-449-3500.
  2. Speak with a housing counselor about the incident.
  3. If merited, your complaint will be referred to a legal representative for an impartial investigation.
  4. If your complaint is accepted, an attempt will be made to assist both parties in resolving the issue.
  5. If the complaint is unresolved and there is evidence that a violation of the law occurred, the complaint may be litigated.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI)

The City of San Diego, in conjunction with the San Diego Regional Alliance for Fair Housing, has completed the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) for Fiscal Year 2021 to 2025. Established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the AI is a streamlined process designed to help jurisdictions – like ours -- understand and evaluate our Fair Housing landscape.

The AI report represents a demographic profile of San Diego County, assesses the extent of housing needs among specific income groups, and evaluates the range of available housing choices for residents. The AI also analyzes the conditions in the private market and public sector that may limit the range of housing choices or impede a person’s access to housing. More importantly, this AI identifies impediments that may prevent equal housing access and develops solutions to mitigate or remove such impediments. To view the full report, please visit the following link.

Review the Analyses of Fair Housing Impediments prepared by the San Diego region: