Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is ordering the city of Tucson to repeal a law prohibiting landlords from denying potential tenants because of how they make their money.

Brnovich said in a news release Thursday that Tucson's “source of income” ordinance violates state law.

Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria, requested in November that Brnovich’s office investigate Tucson’s amendment to its fair housing code.

“To put it plainly, no matter the reason, Arizona’s 91 cities and towns are bound by the laws of this state. We hold this expectation for our citizens, and we will do the same for our local governments,” Toma said.

Brnovich argues the Arizona Legislature in 1992 passed legislation allowing large cities and towns to devise local fair housing measures. However, the measures had to be approved by Jan. 1, 1995. This current ordinance comes 27 years too late, Brnovich said.

The Tucson City Council unanimously passed the ordinance in September despite objections from an apartment owners’ group.

The law adds source of income to other factors like race and sexual orientation that are protected from discrimination. The intent was to protect low-income renters who receive government housing assistance.

Toma said the ordinance “is nothing but smoke and mirrors that cloud the real issue at hand: years of poor growth management, zoning and land use policies that have limited new housing development.

“Blaming those who construct new housing or those who provide housing is misguided at best.”

Brnovich said Tucson has 30 days to rescind the law.