CHICAGO: NO BLANKET EXCLUSIONS
Chicago’s Just Housing Amendment reflects a growing trend away from automatic disqualification policies. Rather than denying applicants solely because of a criminal conviction, housing providers are generally expected to conduct an individualized assessment and consider the surrounding circumstances.
Key takeaway for Chicago landlords:
Blanket bans on applicants with criminal records create significant risk. Individualized review is generally expected. Consistent screening standards are essential.
NOT EVERY STATE IS MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION While cities such as San Francisco, Oakland,
In states such as Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina, criminal background screening remains a common risk-management tool. However, landlords should still apply screening criteria consistently and avoid policies that could create fair housing concerns.
Seattle, Chicago, and New York City have adopted significant restrictions on criminal-history screening, many other states continue to allow landlords broader discretion.
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