US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 3601

Declaration of policy

It is the policy of the United States to provide, within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States.

Pub. L. 90–284, title VIII, § 80182 Stat. 81(, , .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–430, § 13(a)102 Stat. 1636

“This Act and the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note below] shall take effect on the 180th day beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1995 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–76, § 1109 Stat. 787

section 3607 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–430, § 1102 Stat. 1619

section 3602 of this title“This Act [enacting sections 3610 to 3614a of this title, amending sections 3602, 3604 to 3608, 3615 to 3619, and 3631 of this title and sections 2341 and 2342 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, repealing former sections 3610 to 3613 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and ] may be cited as the ‘Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 90–284Pub. L. 100–430, § 2102 Stat. 1619

section 1360 of Title 28“That this Act [enacting this chapter, sections 231 to 233, 245, 2101, and 2102 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and sections 1301 to 1303, 1311, 1312, 1321 to 1326, 1331, and 1341 of Title 25, Indians, amending sections 1973j, 3533, 3535 of this title, and sections 241, 242, and 1153 of Title 18, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 231 and 245 of Title 18, and repealing provisions set out as notes under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1968’.”
, as added by , , , provided:

Section 800 of Pub. L. 90–284Pub. L. 100–430, § 4102 Stat. 1619

“This title [enacting this subchapter and amending sections 3533 and 3535 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Fair Housing Act’.”
, title VIII, as added by , , , provided that:

Separability

Pub. L. 100–430, § 14102 Stat. 1636

“If any provision of this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above] or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of the provision to other persons not similarly situated or to other circumstances shall not be affected thereby.”
, , , provided that:

Disclaimer of Preemptive Effect on Other Acts

Pub. L. 100–430, § 12102 Stat. 1636

“Nothing in the Fair Housing Act [this subchapter] as amended by this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above] limits any right, procedure, or remedy available under the Constitution or any other Act of the Congress not so amended.”
, , , provided that:

Initial Rulemaking

Pub. L. 100–430, § 13(b)102 Stat. 1636

“In consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, the Secretary shall, not later than the 180th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [], issue rules to implement title VIII [this subchapter] as amended by this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above]. The Secretary shall give public notice and opportunity for comment with respect to such rules.”
, , , provided that:

Federally Protected Activities; Penalties

section 101(b) of Pub. L. 90–284section 245 of Title 18Penalties for violations respecting federally protected activities not applicable to and not affecting activities under this subchapter, see , set out as a note under , Crimes and Criminal Procedure.