Nebraska law and Lincoln's Fairness Ordinance do not include source of income as a protected class. Lincoln landlords may legally decline Section 8 vouchers or other subsidy-based applicants if the decision is not a pretext for race, disability, or familial status discrimination.
The federal Fair Housing Act does not list source of income as a protected characteristic, and Nebraska Fair Housing Act §20-318 mirrors that scope. Lincoln Municipal Code §11.01.020 (Fairness Ordinance, 2012) added sexual orientation and gender identity, but it does not extend to source of income. Consequently, Lincoln landlords may refuse Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers, VASH vouchers, or other subsidy programs as a category. Practical limits remain: discriminatory refusal that disparately impacts a protected class can still violate fair-housing law, and the Lincoln Housing Authority can decline to renew contracts on properties that fail HQS inspection.
Stated voucher refusals are lawful, but using subsidy refusal as a pretext to exclude families with children, racial minorities, or persons with disabilities can produce HUD complaints and Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission enforcement.
Lincoln, NE
The Lincoln Housing Authority administers Housing Choice (Section 8) and project-based vouchers in Lancaster County. Participation is voluntary for landlords...
Lincoln, NE
Lincoln does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. Nebraska follows the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) under NRS Chapter 76. Landlor...
See how Lincoln's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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