§ 22-16. Filing of complaints; answer to complaint; amendment of complaint or answer.

(a)

A person who claims that another person has committed a discriminatory housing practice against him may report that offense to the administrator by filing an informal complaint no later than 45 days after the date of the alleged discriminatory housing practice.

(b)

The administrator shall treat a complaint referred by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Attorney General of the United States under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Public Law 90-284, as an informal complaint filed under subsection (a) of this section.

(c)

An informal complaint must be in writing, verified or affirmed, on a form to be supplied by the administrator, and shall contain the following:

(1)

Identify and address the respondent.

(2)

Date of the offense and date of filing the informal complaint.

(3)

General statement of facts of the offense including the basis of the discrimination (race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, handicap or age).

(4)

Name and signature of the complainant.

(d)

Each complaint shall be held in confidence by the administrator unless and until the complainant and the respondent consent in writing that it shall be made public.

(e)

No later than 15 days after the filing of the informal complaint, the administrator shall transmit a copy of the complaint to each respondent named therein by certified mail, return receipt requested. Thereupon, the respondent may file a written, verified informal answer to the informal complaint within 20 days of the date of the receipt of the informal complaint.

(f)

An informal complaint or answer may be amended at any time, and the administrator shall furnish a copy of each amended informal complaint or answer to the respondent's complaint, respectively, as promptly as practicable.

(g)

The administrator shall assist complainants or respondents when necessary in the preparation and filing of informal complaints or answers or any amendments thereto.

(h)

The administrator shall advise complainants of their rights and options provided in F.S. § 760.34.

(Ord. No. 16-06, § 2, 4-7-2016)