66-7-106 - Leasing to blind persons. - Tennessee Statutes

66-7-106. Leasing to blind persons.

(a)  Any legally blind person in this state whose loss of sight necessitates a guide dog for mobility purposes, which has been obtained from a recognized school of training for such purposes, may not be denied the right to lease an apartment or other types of dwellings as a consequence of having a guide dog.

(b)  Because the guide dog is essential to the mobility of its master, no deposit may be required to be paid, with respect to the dog, by the legally blind person to the owner, manager, landlord or agent of any such attendance.

(c)  No restrictions may be imposed upon the legally blind person regarding the whereabouts of the animal so long as its master is in attendance.

(d)  Any owner, manager, landlord or agent who refuses to lease living space to any legally blind person because of a guide dog, or violates a provision of this section, commits a Class C misdemeanor.

[Acts 1982, ch. 951, § 1; 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]