Have you faced discrimination in the City of Los Angeles?
We're here to help.
LA Civil Rights has the authority to enforce the City’s Civil and Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination in the private sector areas of commerce, education, employment and housing.
Our enforcement division is central to achieving the Department’s overall mission of building diversity, equity, and accountability.
Please note that we are not legal representatives and cannot provide legal advice or services.
What kind of civil rights enforcement does LA Civil Rights provide?
The Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights) has authority to investigate claims of discrimination in the private sector only. Alleged discriminatory practices must meet the following criteria:
- Must have occurred within the City of Los Angeles.
- Must be within three years of the intake form submission date.
- Must be in the private sector (commerce, education, employment, and housing).
- Must pertain to one of the protected classes (eg. race, gender, religion etc.). Learn more about protected classes here.
LA Civil Rights does not have the authority to investigate complaints against public entities including other city departments. Additionally, under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the State has authority over certain protected classes in housing and employment.
If you are not sure if your incident falls within the authority of LA Civil Rights or would like to learn more, submit an inquiry intake form. You can also find more resources here.
What should I know before submitting a complaint?
State Law: State law controls the enforcement of housing and employment violations for certain protected classes. Filing a discrimination complaint with LA Civil Rights does not preclude pursuing any other available remedies. Learn more about the State of California’s Civil Rights Department at https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality will be kept to the extent permitted by law.
Retaliation Prohibited: Retaliation against any person for exercising rights protected by the City of Los Angeles’ Civil Rights Law is prohibited.
Other Remedies Not Affected: Filing a discrimination complaint with LA Civil Rights does not prevent any person from seeking other criminal, civil, or other remedies established by law.
Criminal Penalties: Any person who willfully resists, obstructs, or interferes with the enforcement authority of this Department, or the Hearing Officer in the performance of any duty under this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months.
Language & Accessibility Services
If you need translation services or are experiencing any difficulty accessing our information, or would like to request our documents in an accessible alternative format, please send us an email at civilandhumanrights@lacity.org.