Housing Discrimination
Wis. Stat. 106.50 — source of income and victim status among the protected grounds, and a year to sue
Wisconsin's open housing law protects equal opportunity for housing regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, lawful source of income, age or ancestry.
- Refusing to sell, rent or finance housing, or to negotiate.
- Charging different prices or terms, or refusing inspection.
- Advertising a preference or limitation.
- Refusing to renew a lease, causing an eviction, or harassing a tenant.
- Falsely saying housing is unavailable.
- Coercing, threatening or interfering with someone for exercising these rights or helping someone else do so.
One year to sue. A person alleging a violation may bring a civil action for an injunction and damages, including punitive damages, with costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff, within one year after the violation occurred or ended. The year pauses while an administrative complaint on the same facts is pending.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 106.50 — Open housing
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.