Fair Housing Protection

About Fair Housing

Individuals who believe they are being discriminated against with respect to a property located within the Borough of State College may file a complaint in person or by mail on forms provided by the Borough. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the act of discrimination. Access the Borough of State College Initial Fair Housing Complaint Form. The form must be printed to be signed before submission.  For more information, call 814-234-7109. 

If you have not been discriminated against based on the below classes, but have concerns related to the structural conditions of your housing, consider contacting Centre Region Code. Complaints dealing with the structural conditions of the rental property or the number of unrelated occupants in apartment units are investigated by Centre Region Code Administration Office. To initiate a complaint of this type, contact the Code office at 814-231-3056.  

To learn more about renting in PA view the PA Office of Attorney General’s Consumer Guide to Tenant and Landlord Rights. 

When renting or selling housing, it is illegal to discriminate based on the following. If you feel that you have been discriminated against based on the following classes, please consider filing a Fair Housing Complaint: 

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • National origin
  • Place of birth
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity or expression
  • Source of income
  • Disability or handicap
  • Presence of a service animal (public accommodations),
  • Presence of a support animal (housing and real estate-related transactions)
  • Pregnancy
  • Birth of a child
  • Marital status
  • Familial status

Examples of discrimination are:

  • Falsely denying that housing is available;
  • Discriminatory advertising;
  • Refusal to rent
  • Discrimination in the terms of the lease

View the Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Ordinance on Chapter V, Part E of the Borough Code of Ordinances.

View Online Code

File a Complaint

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

Individuals who believe they are being discriminated against may also file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in Harrisburg. The phone number is 717-787-9784. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the act of discrimination.

United States Department of Housing & Urban Development

A complaint may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by calling the Housing Discrimination Hotline at the toll-free number 1-800-669-9777. Complaints must be filed within one year of the act of discrimination.

Obtaining Forms

SUBMIT A COMPLAINT

Complaints forms for filing with the Borough of State College, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and HUD are available at:
State College Planning Department
243 S Allen Street
Second Floor
State College, PA 16801

For more information, call 814-234-7109 or email the Planning Department.