Rockland County, NY Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)

Rockland County Code Chapter 261, the Fair Housing law, defines SOURCE OF INCOME at § 261-2 to include lawful, verifiable income from Social Security, SSI, unemployment benefits, any federal, state or local public assistance or housing-assistance program including the federal housing choice voucher program known as Section 8, disability payments, private rental-assistance grants, and pension or annuity income. Under § 261-3 A(1) and A(2), it is unlawful for an owner, lessee, broker, salesperson or managing agent to refuse to show, rent, sell or negotiate a housing accommodation, or to publish an ad indicating a preference or limitation, because of an applicant's source of income, alongside the chapter's other protected classes (race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital or familial status, age, military or veteran status, and domestic-violence victim status).

Two exemptions apply, but neither reaches source of income: an owner-occupied building of three families or fewer rented without a broker is exempt only from the "unavailable for inspection" clause of A(1) (§ 261-3 B(1)), and the age/familial-status carve-outs for 55-and-older housing (§ 261-3 B(2)) do not touch source-of-income protection. A person who believes they were denied housing because of a Section 8 voucher or other benefit income can file a written, verified complaint with the Executive Secretary of the Fair Housing Board within 180 days of the act (§ 261-7 A); the Secretary must investigate within 30 days and attempt conciliation before a hearing examiner or jury hears the case.