The NYC Human Rights Law, Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, prohibits discrimination in New York City. Individuals are protected from discrimination in many areas, based on a number of protected classes.

Areas Covered by the Human Rights Law:

• Employment (interns, whether paid or not, are considered employees)
• Housing (rentals and home ownership, including lending practices)
• Public accommodations (doctor's offices, stores, theaters, stadiums, taxi cabs, etc.)
• Retaliation
• Discriminatory harassment
• Bias-based profiling by law enforcement

Protected Classes under the Human Rights Law:

• Age
• Alienage or citizenship status
• Color
• Disability
• Gender (including sexual harassment)
• Gender Identity
• Marital status and partnership status
• National origin
• Pregnancy and Lactation Accommodations
  
• Race
• Religion/Creed
• Sexual orientation
• Status as a Veteran or Active Military Service Member

Additional protections are afforded in employment based on:

• Arrest or conviction record
• Caregiver
• Credit history
• Unemployment status
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Decisions
• Salary History
• Status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses

Additional protections are afforded in housing based on:

• Lawful occupation
• Lawful source of income
• The presence of children
• Status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses

The City Human Rights Law requires that the complaint be filed within one year of the last alleged act of discrimination (or three years for gender-based harassment).

The alleged act of discrimination must have taken place within, or have sufficient connection to, the five boroughs of New York City for a complaint to be filed with the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

Learn more about how to file a complaint.