Fair Housing & Source-of-Income Rules - Centennial

Housing and Building Standards Colorado 4 Minutes Read · published March 01, 2026 Flag of Colorado

Centennial, Colorado residents and housing providers must follow federal, state, and local rules that protect renters and applicants from discrimination based on protected characteristics and, in some cases, source of income. This guide explains how Centennial enforces fair housing principles, where to file complaints, which city departments are involved, and what actions tenants and landlords can take to resolve issues. It summarizes official City of Centennial code resources, the City community development contact path for complaints, and state civil-rights enforcement options to help readers act promptly and correctly. The information below cites official Centennial and Colorado sources and is current as of March 2026.

Document actions quickly and keep copies of notices, ads, and communications.

Penalties & Enforcement

Centennial relies on its municipal code and enforcement through city departments for zoning, building, and code-compliance matters, while discrimination complaints generally proceed through state or federal civil-rights agencies. The municipal code page cited below does not list specific monetary fines for fair-housing discrimination and for some citations states amounts as "not specified on the cited page." [1] For discrimination based on protected classes or source of income, enforcement pathways include administrative investigations by state or federal agencies and civil remedies in court; specific statutory penalties may be set at the state or federal level rather than in the Centennial code.[3]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited Centennial code page; see state and federal agencies for civil penalties and damages.[1]
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing-offence ranges are not specified on the cited municipal page; state or federal orders may impose ongoing remedies or penalties.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: injunctive relief, cease-and-desist or compliance orders, mandatory training or monitoring; municipal enforcement may issue abatement orders for code violations.[1]
  • Enforcer and complaint pathway: City of Centennial Community Development handles local code and housing-related inspections and complaints; discrimination complaints may be filed with the Colorado Civil Rights Division or HUD.[2][3]
  • Appeals and review: municipal appeals procedures or judicial review depend on the specific code section or administrative order and are not specified on the cited Centennial code page.[1]
If the issue is discrimination, file both a local report and a state or federal complaint to preserve remedies.

Applications & Forms

To report a code violation in Centennial, contact Community Development through the official city contact page; the municipal site lists complaint and permitting contacts but does not publish a single consolidated fair-housing complaint form on the cited page.[2] For discrimination complaints based on race, disability, familial status, or source of income, the Colorado Civil Rights Division provides complaint filing guidance and intake forms on its site.[3]

  • City code complaints: follow Community Development submission and inspection process on the City of Centennial site; form availability is described on the department page.[2]
  • State complaint form: Colorado Civil Rights Division complaint intake and instructions available on the CCRD site.[3]

Common Violations and Typical Responses

  • Refusal to rent due to lawful source-of-income (when protected by law): report to state civil-rights agency; remedies not specified on the cited municipal page.[1]
  • Discriminatory screening or advertising: may trigger investigations and corrective orders by state or federal agencies.[3]
  • Failure to provide reasonable accommodation for disability: raises federal Fair Housing Act issues and can lead to injunctive relief and damages through federal or state action.
Keep a dated record of ads, messages, and application receipts to support a complaint.

FAQ

Can a landlord in Centennial refuse tenants based on source of income?
Centennial municipal pages do not list a standalone local source-of-income ban; sample enforcement typically occurs through state or federal law—file a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division to explore protections and remedies.[1][3]
Where do I report suspected housing discrimination in Centennial?
Report local code or habitability problems to City of Centennial Community Development; report discrimination to the Colorado Civil Rights Division or HUD for civil-rights enforcement.[2][3]
How long do I have to file a complaint?
Specific filing deadlines vary by statute and are not specified on the cited Centennial municipal page; check the Colorado Civil Rights Division and HUD guidance for limits and tolling rules.[1][3]

How-To

  1. Document the incident: save ads, messages, application records, and communication dates.
  2. Contact City of Centennial Community Development to report local code violations and seek inspection.[2]
  3. File a civil-rights complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (intake form and guidance on their site).[3]
  4. Consider federal complaint to HUD for Fair Housing Act enforcement or seek legal counsel for private civil action.

Key Takeaways

  • Centennial addresses code and habitability through Community Development while discrimination claims often proceed at state or federal level.[2]
  • Monetary fines for discrimination are not specified on the cited municipal code page; state and federal remedies may apply.[1]

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Centennial Code of Ordinances (Municode).
  2. [2] City of Centennial - Community Development.
  3. [3] Colorado Civil Rights Division - Civil-rights filing and guidance.

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