Is “able-bodied only” a Fair Housing violation in a listing?

Q: Is "able-bodied only" a Fair Housing violation in a listing?

Avoid. Requires a physical ability, which is an indication of discrimination based on disability. Every cited list puts "able-bodied" and "physically fit only" on the avoid side.

Avoid Flagged as high risk. Most word lists put this on the avoid side.

Why

Requires a physical ability, which is an indication of discrimination based on disability. Every cited list puts "able-bodied" and "physically fit only" on the avoid side.

Safer wording

There's no one-click rewrite for this one. Describe the property, not the people, and rewrite this part by hand.

What the tag means

Avoid means an explicit preference or limitation, or a phrase on the avoid side of the cited word lists. This is the risk end of the scale, not a style choice.

What the law covers here

The federal statute uses the word "handicap" and defines it as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of one, or being regarded as having one. Describing accessibility features of the property is generally fine. Describing which people can or can't live there is what gets flagged.

Sources

About the 1995 HUD memo

HUD no longer posts the 1995 memo on its website. Oregon REALTORS reported in April 2026 that HUD removed it without notice, and HUD withdrew its April 2024 digital-advertising guidance in September 2025. The Fair Housing Act and HUD's advertising regulation (24 CFR § 100.75) didn't change. Boards and MLS word lists still lean on the memo, which is why it's still cited here, as history and as the clearest explanation of how ads are read.

Not legal advice. Word lists can't judge context, and laws differ by state and city, with some protecting more classes than federal law does. If you're unsure about a listing, ask your broker or a fair housing attorney. Rule dis-able-bodied, ListingLint rules v2026.10.2.