The Fair Housing Act (FHA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, and disability.
Enacted in 1968 as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act and amended in 1988 to add disability and familial status protections, the FHA applies to most housing in the U.S., including rentals, sales, condominiums, HOAs, shelters, and assisted living (with limited exceptions like owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units).
Key protection for people with disabilities: Housing providers must grant reasonable accommodations—changes to rules, policies, or services—if needed for equal housing opportunity. This includes waiving "no pets" policies for assistance animals (service animals or emotional support animals that provide disability-related help, such as alleviating symptoms of mental health conditions).
Assistance animals are not pets; no pet fees, deposits, breed/size/weight restrictions, or extra rent can apply.
Providers can request reliable documentation if the disability or need isn't obvious (e.g., a letter from a healthcare provider).
Denials are allowed only for undue burden, fundamental alteration, or direct threat (based on individual behavior, not speculation).
Enforced by HUD and the Department of Justice; violations can lead to complaints, investigations, and penalties. As of late 2025, core FHA protections remain unchanged, though some prior HUD guidance documents on assistance animals were withdrawn in September 2025 for review (the law itself stands).