REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
FAIR HOUSING
Resolution 2014-06.10.hh Fairfield County Board of Commissioners
Fairfield County has had an affirmative Fair Housing program since 1981. The Regional Planning Commission provides services to the Board of County Commissioners in the implementation of the program. The services stressed by the County are educational and included attending meetings throughout the County to present the fair housing laws, publishing news articles concerning fair housing, and distributing fair housing brochures. In addition, the RPC responds directly to inquiries from individuals about possible fair housing violations.
The RPC staff explains that while there is an Ohio law governing the duties and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords, county governments have no authority to intervene. Persons are advised to contact their personal attorney or the legal aid society. A brochure explaining landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities under Ohio law has been prepared and is provided to tenants and landlords wishing to understand their rights and responsibilities. If a complaint is about a fair housing violation, the person is referred to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission for its action.
Staff also gave presentations on Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant laws before a number of township trustee and council meetings and other meetings during the year and distributed brochures at public buildings and agency offices.
In 2019, RPC staff completed an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for Fairfield County, which is required to be completed every five years. The 2019 Analysis reviews various demographic data, housing characteristics, land use patterns, employment opportunities, and other similar data to identify existing conditions or barriers that limit housing choice. The plan also includes a strategy and timeline for addressing each identified impediment.
The Fairfield County Regional Planning Commission provides standard fair housing services for the unincorporated areas of Fairfield County (including municipalities with the exception of the City of Lancaster) that shall meet or exceed the requirements for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The fair housing services will include:
- Handling citizen complaints and concerns
- Providing fair housing educational outreach
- Developing and distributing educational material regarding fair housing
- Evaluation of fair housing issues in Fairfield County
Lynda Berge Disser
City of Lancaster Department of Community Development
104 East Main St
Lancaster, OH 43130
(740) 687-6663
Josh Hillberry
Fairfield County Regional Planning
138 West Chestnut St
Lancaster, OH 43130
(740) 652-7110
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Discrimination Hotline can be reached at
(800) 669-9777