The federal and D.C. governments classify “disability” as a protected trait to protect persons with disabilities from discriminatory practices. In general, a protected trait (class) is something about a person that cannot be used to discriminate against that person. It is illegal, via federal and local laws, to deny a person equal housing opportunities because of a disability.
The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, aka Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (broadened the 1964 Civil Rights Act), set the foundation for anti-discriminatory housing laws in the United States. The Act "prohibits discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on the following protected traits (classes): race, religion, nation origin, and sex". It was not until 1988 that the Fair Housing Act was amended to prohibit housing discrimination against persons with disabilities and familial status (families with children and pregnant women) as new protected traits.
Most federal anti-discrimination housing laws for persons with disabilities are administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The link below provides additional information on the laws:
Federal laws that protect persons with disabilities against housing discrimination: Disability Overview | HUD.gov / US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
D.C. Office on Human Rights (OHR) enforces D.C.’s Human Rights Act and federal anti-discrimination laws. As of July 2023, D.C. has 23 protected traits, and the federal government has seven protected traits. If you have experienced housing discrimination in D.C., contact OHR at 202-727-4559, TTY: 711, or via the website: File A Discrimination Complaint website | ohr (DC.gov).