A federal law that prohibits discrimination against any person due to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin in the sale, rental, leasing, financing and advertising of housing.

The Fair Housing Act was passed  in 1968 and amended in 1974 and again in 1988. The Act provides the HUD Secretary with various fair housing enforcement and investigation responsibilities.

For more details also see "Fair Housing Laws" and HUD.