A Georgia licensee's client asks whether the state's Fair Housing Law protects tenants based on sexual orientation and source of income statewide. The licensee is unsure and consults the supervising broker. Which response is most accurate under current Georgia law?

Correct Answer

A) Sexual orientation and source of income are not among the protected classes listed in Georgia's statewide Fair Housing Law, though some local ordinances may provide additional protections.

Georgia's Fair Housing Law (O.C.G.A. Title 8, Chapter 3, Article 4) enumerates the same protected classes as the federal Fair Housing Act: race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, and familial status. Sexual orientation and source of income are not included in the state statute. However, certain local jurisdictions — such as the City of Atlanta and some counties — have enacted their own ordinances that may add protections for classes like sexual orientation or gender identity. Licensees must know both the state baseline and any applicable local ordinances in the jurisdictions where they practice.