How to Find Out If Your State Protects Renters’ Income Sources
Luckily, more states and local areas now have laws that stop landlords from turning away renters just because they get help paying their rent.
What Are Source of Income Protection Laws?
Source of income protection laws make it illegal for landlords to refuse to rent to someone just because they receive certain types of income. For example, your income might come from:
- Social Security
- Child support
- Alimony (money from a former spouse)
- Government housing programs (like Section 8 vouchers)
If you legally receive your income, landlords in these areas can’t discriminate against you for how you pay your rent.
How to Check if Your Area Has These Laws
Zillow makes it easy to see if a rental is in a place with these protections:
- Go to Zillow.com and find the rental listing.
- Scroll down to the section called “Local Legal Protections.”
- Click “see more” to view all protections, including those for renters with housing vouchers.
If protections exist, it will be marked with “Yes.” This will tell you if the home is covered by state or local laws that protect renters who receive housing assistance.
More Legal Protections
The legal protections section may also mention protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Zillow updates this information every month, but if you have questions, it's best to speak with a lawyer or legal aid group.
Places with These Laws
As of early 2021, 18 states, Washington, D.C., and more than 90 cities and counties have these source-of-income laws. The exact rules can be different depending on where you live.
What to Do If You Face Discrimination
If you think a landlord has discriminated against you because of your income source, contact your local or state civil rights office or attorney general. Housing agencies and organizations like the National Fair Housing Alliance can also help.
Types of Housing Assistance
There are different programs to help with rent:
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8): The most well-known, helping millions of people pay their rent. Landlords are paid directly by local agencies.
- Other programs may give one-time payments or provide permanent housing for veterans and people facing long-term homelessness.
However, these programs only help if landlords agree to rent to people who use them—another reason income protection laws are important.
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Read next: How to Find HCV (Section 8) Housing in 2026
