Equal Housing Opportunity Logo & Fair Housing Logo Rules

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 against the published sources listed below.

Key Information

No federal law requires the Equal Housing Opportunity logo on every real estate ad. The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)) bans discriminatory ads, and HUD's logo guidelines (former 24 CFR Part 109) were removed from the CFR effective May 1, 1996 as nonbinding guidance. The logo, slogan, or statement is mandatory in specific cases: FHA affirmative-marketing projects (24 CFR 200.620), USDA multifamily project signs (7 CFR 3560.104), and lenders' home-loan ads (e.g. FDIC 12 CFR 338.3). HUD's official logo files are free at hud.gov/contactus/hudgraphics.

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The Problem

Most advice about the fair housing logo blends four different things — the Equal Housing Opportunity mark advertisers use, the Equal Housing Lender mark banks use, the 11 x 14 HUD poster offices must display, and the International Symbol of Accessibility — and repeats size 'rules' that no current federal regulation contains.

The Solution

This page separates each mark by who must use it and where the rule lives (statute, regulation, or former HUD guidance), quotes what the current regulations say, links each primary source, and flags what no rule requires.

Key Features

Three accepted forms

HUD-approved insignia come in three forms: the logotype (a house with an equal sign, with the words 'Equal Housing Opportunity' beneath it), the slogan 'Equal Housing Opportunity', and a longer pledge statement. 24 CFR 200.620 and 7 CFR 3560.104 accept any one of the three.

Benefit: Pick the form that fits the medium — the slogan works where an image can't go

Fair Housing Act is the binding rule for ads

42 U.S.C. § 3604(c) makes it unlawful to make, print, or publish any notice, statement, or advertisement for a dwelling that indicates a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. It does not prescribe a logo.

Benefit: The logo signals good faith; the content of the ad is what the law tests

Former 24 CFR Part 109 status

HUD's Fair Housing Advertising guidelines (24 CFR Part 109) were removed from the Code of Federal Regulations by a final rule published April 1, 1996 (61 FR 14378), effective May 1, 1996. HUD said it would provide this nonbinding guidance through handbooks or other materials instead.

Benefit: Cite Part 109 as historical guidance, not as a current regulation

Where the logo is mandatory

FHA program applicants covered by HUD's affirmative fair housing marketing rule must use the logo, slogan, or statement in all advertising, printed material, and project-site signs (24 CFR 200.620). USDA Rural Development multifamily project signs must show one of the three, and a logotype must be at least 5% of the sign (7 CFR 3560.104(d)).

Benefit: Know when display is a legal condition, not just best practice

How It Works

Identify which rule applies to you

Housing advertiser (broker, agent, landlord)? The Fair Housing Act governs your ad content; the logo is recommended, and your state, MLS, or brokerage may require it. FHA or USDA-financed project? The logo/slogan/statement is required. Bank, credit union, or savings association advertising home loans? Your regulator's Equal Housing Lender rule applies.

Use HUD's official artwork

Download the Equal Housing Opportunity logo from HUD's 'Equal Housing Opportunity Graphics for Printing' page (hud.gov/contactus/hudgraphics): 300 dpi files from 0.5 to 4 inches, in TIF and EPS (BMP for the smaller sizes). Avoid redrawn versions.

Place it consistently and legibly

Put the logo or slogan in the same spot on every piece (commonly near the brokerage name and license information). Keep the words with the house graphic, and make it readable at the size the ad is actually viewed.

Separately, post the HUD poster

The fair housing poster is a different obligation: 24 CFR Part 110 requires an 11 x 14 inch poster at places of business where dwellings are offered, and at certain dwellings and model homes. Lenders post the Equal Housing Lender poster under their regulator's rule.

Compliance Reference

Mark or obligation	What it is	Who it applies to	Where the rule lives	Required or recommended
Equal Housing Opportunity logo, slogan, or statement — general housing ads	House-with-equal-sign logotype with the words 'Equal Housing Opportunity'; or the slogan; or the pledge statement	Brokers, agents, landlords, builders advertising dwellings	42 U.S.C. § 3604(c) bans discriminatory ads; logo guidance was 24 CFR Part 109, removed from the CFR effective May 1, 1996 (61 FR 14378)	Recommended federally. Some states treat it as evidence of compliance (e.g. Virginia 18VAC135-50-290); MLS or brokerage policy may require it
Equal Housing Opportunity logo, slogan, or statement — FHA affirmative marketing	Same three forms	Applicants in FHA subsidized and unsubsidized programs meeting the 24 CFR 200.615 thresholds (e.g. projects of five or more units)	24 CFR 200.620(a), (e), (f)	Required in all advertising, printed sales/rental material, and on a project-site sign
Equal Housing Opportunity logo, slogan, or statement — USDA Rural Development project sign	Same three forms; logotype must be at least 5% of the sign	USDA Rural Development multifamily housing borrowers	7 CFR 3560.104(d)(1)(viii)	Required on the permanent project sign
Equal Housing Lender logo	House logotype with the legend 'Equal Housing Lender'; in oral ads, a spoken 'Equal Housing Lender' statement	FDIC-supervised institutions; federal credit unions; savings associations (OCC) — when advertising dwelling-related loans	12 CFR 338.3 (FDIC); 12 CFR 701.31(d) (NCUA); 12 CFR 128.4 (OCC)	Required nondiscrimination notice. FDIC and NCUA rules also accept the Equal Housing Opportunity logotype
HUD fair housing poster	11 x 14 inch poster headed 'Equal Housing Opportunity' listing prohibited practices	Persons subject to Fair Housing Act § 804, at places of business where dwellings are offered and at certain dwellings and model homes	24 CFR Part 110 (110.10, 110.25)	Required. Failure to display is prima facie evidence of a discriminatory housing practice (24 CFR 110.30). Not an advertising mark
Equal Housing Lender poster	At least 11 x 14 inch lender version of the poster	FDIC-supervised institutions; savings associations	12 CFR 338.4 (FDIC); 12 CFR 128.5 (OCC)	Required in lobbies or where loans are made
International Symbol of Accessibility (wheelchair symbol)	Accessibility sign symbol — not a fair housing logo	Facilities covered by the ADA Standards (e.g. accessible entrances); USDA project accessible parking	2010 ADA Standards 703.7.2.1 and 216.6; 7 CFR 3560.104(d)(2)	Required where those rules call for accessibility signage; never a substitute for the Equal Housing Opportunity mark

Common Use Cases

Listing flyer for a resale home

Scenario: A listing agent wants the fair housing logo and wording on a printed flyer and asks what is required.

Process: Download the logo from hud.gov/contactus/hudgraphics → place it with the words 'Equal Housing Opportunity' near the brokerage name → review the flyer copy against 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c) (no preference by protected class) → check MLS and brokerage advertising policy for any mandatory display

Compliance: Federal law tests the ad's content; the logo is a recommended good-faith signal. Recommendation for a careful agent: use the logo with its words on every printed piece and the slogan where an image won't fit.

Mortgage lender's home-loan advertisement

Scenario: A bank's loan officer runs a mortgage ad and an email signature that promotes home loans.

Process: Confirm the institution's regulator → FDIC: 12 CFR 338.3; federal credit union: 12 CFR 701.31(d); savings association: 12 CFR 128.4 → include the Equal Housing Lender (or, where accepted, Equal Housing Opportunity) logotype in written ads, or say 'Equal Housing Lender' in oral ads → follow the institution's compliance policy on signatures

Compliance: The notice requirement attaches to advertising of dwelling-related loans. Whether a particular signature is an advertisement is a judgment your compliance officer makes.

Affordable or subsidized rental property sign

Scenario: A property manager for a financed multifamily property needs entrance signage and office posters.

Process: Identify the financing program → FHA program: logo/slogan/statement on project-site sign and printed material (24 CFR 200.620) → USDA Rural Development: logo/slogan/statement on the permanent sign, logotype at least 5% of the sign (7 CFR 3560.104(d)) → HUD poster in the rental office (24 CFR Part 110) → state housing agency requirements from its own compliance manual

Compliance: Program agreements and state housing-finance agency manuals can add requirements beyond these federal rules. BuildMyListing provides compliance documentation tools, not legal advice. Consult a licensed real estate attorney or your program's compliance officer for your property's obligations.

Published Sources

Primary sources checked on the dates shown below. Rules and statutes can change; confirm the current text before publishing.

Cornell Law School LII — 42 U.S. Code § 3604 - Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing (42 U.S.C. § 3604(c); checked 2026-10-10)
Federal Register (GovInfo) — Streamlining of HUD's Regulations Implementing the Fair Housing Act; Final Rule (removes Part 109) (61 FR 14378 (Apr. 1, 1996), effective May 1, 1996; checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 24 CFR Part 200, Subpart M — Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Regulations (24 CFR 200.615, 200.620 and Appendix (Equal Housing Opportunity Insignia); checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 24 CFR Part 110 — Fair Housing Poster (24 CFR 110.10, 110.20, 110.25, 110.30; checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 12 CFR Part 338 — Fair Housing (FDIC) (12 CFR 338.3 (advertising), 338.4 (poster); checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 12 CFR 701.31 — Nondiscrimination requirements (NCUA) (12 CFR 701.31(d); checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 12 CFR Part 128 — Nondiscrimination Requirements (OCC, savings associations) (12 CFR 128.4, 128.5; checked 2026-10-10)
eCFR — 7 CFR 3560.104 — Fair housing (USDA Rural Development multifamily housing) (7 CFR 3560.104(d)(1)(viii), (d)(2); checked 2026-10-10)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Equal Housing Opportunity Graphics for Printing (Official logo files; checked 2026-10-10)
U.S. Access Board — 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (guide) (703.7.2.1, 216.6; checked 2026-10-10)
Virginia Legislative Information System — 18VAC135-50-290 Fair housing policy and practices (18VAC135-50-290; checked 2026-10-10)
Maryland REALTORS (hosted by NAR) — Fair Housing Toolkit (2012) — industry guidance ('When Does a REALTOR Use the Equal Opportunity Logo?'; checked 2026-10-10)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Equal Housing Opportunity logo legally required on every real estate ad?

Not under federal law for ordinary brokers and agents. The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c), prohibits ads that indicate a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on a protected class, but it does not prescribe a logo. HUD's advertising guidelines that recommended the logo, slogan, or statement (24 CFR Part 109) were removed from the Code of Federal Regulations effective May 1, 1996; HUD described them as nonbinding guidance. The logo is required in specific programs: FHA affirmative-marketing projects (24 CFR 200.620), USDA Rural Development project signs (7 CFR 3560.104), and lenders' home-loan advertising under their regulators' rules. States, MLSs, and brokerages can add their own requirements.

Where can I download the official Equal Housing Opportunity logo?

From HUD's 'Equal Housing Opportunity Graphics for Printing' page at https://www.hud.gov/contactus/hudgraphics (checked 2026-10-10). It offers the logo at 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 3, and 4 inches, created at 300 dpi, in TIF and EPS formats (BMP for sizes up to 1.75 inches). Use these files rather than a redrawn or recolored version.

For the Equal Housing Opportunity logo, do I have to keep the words?

Keep them. Where federal regulations describe the mark, they describe the house graphic together with its words: USDA's rule defines the logotype as 'the house and equal sign, with the words equal housing opportunity underneath the house' (7 CFR 3560.104(d)), and the FDIC and NCUA rules refer to the logotype 'with the legend' Equal Housing Lender or Equal Housing Opportunity. HUD's download files include the words. Industry guidance (for example the Maryland REALTORS fair housing toolkit) says the house picture should not be used without the words, while the words alone — the slogan 'Equal Housing Opportunity' — are an accepted form on their own.

What are the placement and size guidelines for the equal housing logo?

For ordinary real estate ads there is no current federal size or placement rule. The former 24 CFR Part 109 included a suggested-size table, but it was removed from the CFR in 1996, so it is historical guidance only (some state rules still reference it — Virginia's 18VAC135-50-290 points to Appendix I of Part 109). Specific rules do exist elsewhere: USDA Rural Development project signs must use a logotype of at least 5% of the sign (7 CFR 3560.104(d)), and lender rules require the notice to appear 'prominently' and in a manner appropriate to the medium (12 CFR 338.3; 12 CFR 701.31(d)). Recommendation: keep it legible at viewing size and in the same position on every piece.

Are there Equal Housing logo requirements for non-home loans?

The federal Equal Housing Lender advertising rules are limited to dwelling-related credit. The FDIC rule covers advertising of loans to purchase, construct, improve, repair, or maintain a dwelling, or any loan secured by a dwelling (12 CFR 338.3); the NCUA rule covers 'real estate-related loans' (12 CFR 701.31). An unsecured personal loan or auto loan ad falls outside those provisions, although fair lending laws such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act still prohibit discrimination in all credit. Many institutions apply the logo more broadly as policy — check with your compliance department.

Does a loan officer's email signature need the Equal Housing Lender or Equal Housing Opportunity logo?

The regulations attach the requirement to the institution's advertising of dwelling-related loans, not to signatures as such. If a signature promotes home loans, an institution may treat it as advertising and require the logo; whether it is one is a call for the institution's compliance officer. FDIC-supervised institutions and federal credit unions may use either the Equal Housing Lender or the Equal Housing Opportunity logotype (12 CFR 338.3; 12 CFR 701.31(d)). Savings associations follow 12 CFR 128.4, which calls for the Equal Housing Lender logotype and legend.

What is the accessibility housing logo?

The wheelchair symbol is the International Symbol of Accessibility, defined in the 2010 ADA Standards (section 703.7.2.1) and used to mark accessible entrances, parking, and facilities. It is not a fair housing logo and does not replace the Equal Housing Opportunity logo, slogan, or statement. Some advertisers add it to signal accessible units; if you do, make sure the unit's accessibility features are accurately described.

What Equal Housing Opportunity logo and wording can I use on real estate flyers?

Use HUD's logotype (with the words beneath the house), or the slogan 'Equal Housing Opportunity', or the statement. The statement in HUD's current regulation (Appendix to 24 CFR Part 200, Subpart M) reads: 'We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.' The later version used in USDA's rule (7 CFR 3560.104) adds 'handicap, familial status' — that version names all seven federally protected classes.

What affordable housing signage is required, for example by OHCS?

Federal rules depend on the financing: FHA program projects must post a project-site sign with the logo, slogan, or statement (24 CFR 200.620(f)); USDA Rural Development projects need a permanent sign showing one of them, with a logotype at least 5% of the sign (7 CFR 3560.104(d)); and rental offices must display the HUD fair housing poster (24 CFR Part 110). State housing finance agencies such as Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) set additional requirements through their compliance manuals and regulatory agreements — we did not verify OHCS's current signage rules, so confirm them with OHCS directly.

Is the HUD fair housing poster the same as the logo?

No. The poster is a separate regulatory obligation under 24 CFR Part 110: an 11 x 14 inch poster headed 'Equal Housing Opportunity' that brokers must post at any place of business where dwellings are offered, and that must be posted at certain dwellings and model homes from the start of construction. Failure to display it is deemed prima facie evidence of a discriminatory housing practice (24 CFR 110.30). Posters are available from HUD regional and area offices, and a facsimile of equivalent size and legibility may be used (24 CFR 110.20).

Do social media posts and marketing emails need the logo?

Section 3604(c) covers any 'notice, statement, or advertisement', so listing posts and marketing emails are subject to the ban on discriminatory content. No federal rule requires the logo in a social caption. Recommendation: add the slogan 'Equal Housing Opportunity' to listing posts and marketing email footers; one-to-one transactional emails with a client are generally not advertisements.

Does BuildMyListing give legal advice on fair housing logos?

No. BuildMyListing provides compliance documentation tools, not legal advice. Its $33-per-listing package covers listing photos (staged and enhanced images labelled and paired with originals, a hosted disclosure page with QR code, and MLS description copy); it does not certify fair housing compliance. Consult a licensed real estate attorney, your MLS, or your institution's compliance officer for the rules that apply to you.

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Equal Housing Opportunity Logo (Fair Housing Logo): When It's Required and How to Use It