Publisher's Notice

The following applies to Real Estate Classified ads placed in The Seattle Times / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Recent amendment of the Federal Fair Housing Act suggests that we caution advertisers against real estate advertising that may be interpreted as discriminatory. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or otherwise encourage discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or familial status. Also, local laws forbidding discrimination in real estate ads not only repeat the federal categories but add prohibitions against discrimination based on age, parental status, sexual orientation, political ideology, or a renter's qualification for rent subsidy support.

To avoid both civil and criminal liability, obvious words should be avoided that connote any of the forbidden categories. Other words not so obvious have been interpreted liberally by the courts to violate the categories.

The Seattle Times Co. makes a substantial good faith effort to help advertisers reduce their risk of liability. For example, the following terms may, in the context of an ad, be considered in violation of federal, state or local laws and, if so, would be unacceptable in real estate advertising in either The Seattle Times or the Post-Intelligencer.

• Adult
• Bachelor
• Couple
• Mature
• No Children
• One Person
• Retired*
• Sex (may be OK in advertising for roommates)
• Single
• Two People
• Christian
• Executive (such as large executive home)
• Handicap (not suitable for)
• Integrated
• Membership Approval
• Mentally Ill
• Religious
• Religious Landmark (near St. Mark's)
• Older Persons*
• Senior Citizens*
• Physically Fit Person (ideal for)
• Private (private community - no; private drive - OK)
• Race
• Restricted
• Senior Discount*

This list is by no means complete. If you have any questions about our policy on this matter, contact us at the Seattle Times at (206) 624-7355.

* Housing for the elderly may be exempt from the Fair Housing Act, if specific criteria have been met. A letter from the advertiser stating that the requirements of the Federal Fair Housing Act have been met in one of the following ways must be on file prior to publication.

The dwelling or housing community must either (1) be designed and operated to assist elderly persons under a state or federal program, (2) be occupied solely by persons 62 years of age or older or (3) have at least 80 percent of its occupied units occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit AND have significant facilities and services designed to meet the physical and social needs of older persons.

Retired communities would qualify as housing for older persons exempt from the Fair Housing Act.