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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65380</law_id><section_number>36-96.4</section_number><catch_line>Discrimination in residential real estate-related transactions; unlawful practices by lenders, insurers, appraisers, etc.; deposit of state funds in such institutions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>36-96.1:1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="36">Housing</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Virginia Fair Housing Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It is unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> or other entity, including any <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span>, whose business includes engaging in <span class="dictionary">residential real estate-related transactions</span> to discriminate against any <span class="dictionary">person</span> in making available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, or in the manner of providing such a transaction, because of race, color, <span class="dictionary">religion</span>, national origin, sex, <span class="dictionary">elderliness</span>, <span class="dictionary">familial status</span>, sexual orientation, gender identity, <span class="dictionary">military status</span>, or disability. It is not unlawful, however, for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate transactions to require any applicant to qualify financially for the loan or loans for which such <span class="dictionary">person</span> is making application. <a id="paragraph-237669" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> As used in this section, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">residential real estate-related transaction</span>&#x201D; means any of the following: <a id="paragraph-237670" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance (i) for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a <span class="dictionary">dwelling</span> or (ii) secured by residential real estate; or <a id="paragraph-237671" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.4/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The selling, brokering, insuring, or appraising of residential real property. However, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a <span class="dictionary">person</span> engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than race, color, <span class="dictionary">religion</span>, national origin, sex, <span class="dictionary">elderliness</span>, <span class="dictionary">familial status</span>, sexual orientation, gender identity, <span class="dictionary">military status</span>, or disability. <a id="paragraph-237672" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.4/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> It shall be unlawful for any state, county, city, or municipal treasurer or governmental official whose responsibility it is to account for, to invest, or manage public funds to deposit or cause to be deposited any public funds in any <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span> provided for herein which is found to be committing discriminatory practices, where such <span class="dictionary">findings</span> were upheld by any <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. Upon such a <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s judicial enforcement of any <span class="dictionary">order</span> to restrain a practice of such <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span> or for said institution to cease or desist in a discriminatory practice, the appropriate fiscal officer or treasurer of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof which has funds deposited in any <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span> which is practicing discrimination, as set forth herein, shall take immediate steps to have the said funds withdrawn and redeposited in another <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span>. If for reasons of sound economic management, this action will result in a financial loss to the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, the action may be deferred for a period not longer than one year. If the <span class="dictionary">lending institution</span> in question has corrected its discriminatory practices, any prohibition set forth in this section shall not apply. <a id="paragraph-237673" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 591, &#xA7; 36-90; 1973, c. 358; 1989, c. 88; 1991, c. 557; 2020, cc. 1137, 1140; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 477, 478.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
