§ 18-21. Discrimination prohibited; exception.

It is unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing or to commit any discriminatory housing practice except that this article shall not apply to any of the following:

(1)

Any single-family house sold or rented by an owner; provided that in case of the sale of any such single-family house by a private individual owner not residing in such house at the time of such sale, the exemption granted by this subsection shall apply only with respect to one such sale within a 24-month period; provided further, that the sale of rental of any such single-family house shall be excepted from the applications of this article only if such house is sold or rented, without the use of any real estate broker, agent, or salesman and without the publication, posting or mailing of any advertisement in violation of subsection (3) of the definition of "discriminatory housing practice" in section 18-20, pertaining to discriminatory housing practice; but nothing in this provision shall prohibit the use of attorneys, escrow agents, abstractors, title companies to perfect or transfer title.

(2)

Rooms or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four families living independent of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of such living quarters as his residence.

(3)

To a religious organization, association, or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of dwellings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion in restricted on account of race, color, sex, sexual preference or national origin.

(4)

Nothing in this article shall prohibit a private club, not open to the public, which as an incident to its primary purpose provides lodging which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose, from limiting the rental or occupancy of such lodgings to its members.

(Code 1984, § 10-7-3)

State law reference

Exemptions and exclusions, Wis. Stats. § 106.50(5m).