Owners and operators are subjected to a multitude of laws and regulations when running their apartment communities. Both federal and state governments highly regulate how owners and operators advertise and market. Owners and operators must ensure their marketing and/or advertising efforts comply with the Indiana Deceptive Consumers Act (Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5, et. seq.), the federal Fair Housing Act, and the regulations enacted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The primary focus of all these laws and regulations are honesty and non-discrimination in the messages used to promote any business. In preparing advertisements and/or marketing campaigns, owners and operators must ensure evidence exists to support their statements and their promotions reasonably cannot be construed as discriminating against any protected class. The article in this section, “Avoiding Deceptive Trade Practices,” provides owners and operators information that may help them as they consider their next advertisement or marketing campaign.