Understanding Your Right To Be Treated Fairly and Without Discrimination in Restaurants, Stores, and Other Businesses

Public Accomodation laws based on race, color and/or national origin

This is a compiled list of statutes and resources based on Stop AAPI Hate’s Survey of Federal and State Laws. If you or a loved one has experienced discrimination, please use this list as a general reference. This is organized based on state jurisdictions

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE

Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(42 U.S.C. § 2000a)

REPORTING VIOLATIONS

Reporting  Violations :  File  a  complaint  with  the  Civil  Rights  Division  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Justice. https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

Private  right  of  action  authorized  by  statute ? Yes. 42 U.S.C.  §  2000a-3.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
No statewide public accommodation law for individuals based on race, color, or national origin.
Check whether local public accommodation laws ( e.g. , municipal ordinances) exist for your specific locality.
Examples of municipalities with public accommodation ordinances :
Birmingham (Birmingham Ordinances 17-121 and 18-188).

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice or, if a local public accommodation law exists, with the specified local agency.
https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Alaska Statutes § 18.80.230

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : Contact the Alaska Commission for Human Rights. https://humanrights.alaska.gov/services/complaints/
Private right of action authorized by statute? Yes. Alaska Statutes § 22.10.020.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-1442

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : Submit a Civil Rights Intake Questionnaire to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. https://www.azag.gov/complaints/civil-rights
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-1492.08.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Arkansas Code § 16-123-107

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : Arkansas does not have a statewide agency designated to receive and process complaints regarding violations of its state public accommodation statute. Consider filing a general consumer complaint with the Arkansas Office of the Attorney General.
https://portal.arkansas.gov/agency/attorney-generals-office/ and https://arkansasag.gov/forms/file-a-consumer-complaint/
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Arkansas Code §§ 16-123-105, 16-123-107.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
California Civil Code § 51

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/ComplaintProcess/#fileComplaintBody
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. California Civil Code § 52.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
https://ccrd.colorado.gov/discrimination and https://socgov07-site.secure.force.com/ColoradoCivilRights/

Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 24-34-306, 24-34-602.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Connecticut General Statutes §§ 46a-64, 81d

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
https://portal.ct.gov/CHRO/Complaint-Process/Complaint-Process/
How-to-File-a-Discrimination-Complaint Private right of action authorized by statute ? No. See, e.g., Wright v. City of Harƞord , 1998 WL 83670, at *3 (Conn. Super. Feb. 13, 1998)

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Delaware Code tit. 6, § 4504

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Delaware Division of Human Relations.
https://statehumanrelations.delaware.gov/file-discrimination-complaint/
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No. Delaware Code tit. 6, § 4508.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
District of Columbia Code § 2-1402.31

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights.
https://ohr.dc.gov/service/file-discrimination-complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. District of Columbia Code § 2-1403.16.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Florida Statutes §§ 413.08, 760.08

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
https://fchr.myflorida.com/public-accommodations
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Florida Statutes §§ 760.07, 760.11.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
No statewide public accommodation law for individuals based on race, color, or national origin / Check whether local public accommodation laws ( e.g. , municipal ordinances) exist for your specific locality. Examples of municipalities with public accommodation ordinances :
Atlanta (Atlanta Code of Ordinances, ch. 94, arts. II & III, §§ 94-10 to 94-68, 94-120 to 94-121).

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice or, if a local public accommodation law exists, with the specified local agency. https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Hawaii Revised Statutes §§ 489-3 to 489-7

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a Pre-Complaint Questionnaire with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.
https://labor.hawaii.gov/hcrc/files/2012/12/PCQ.pdf
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 489-7.5.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Idaho Code § 67-5909

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : Submit an inquiry with the Idaho Human Rights Commission.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Illinois Compiled Statutes ch. 775, act 5, art. 5, §§ 101 to 103

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : Submit an inquiry with the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
https://www2.illinois.gov/dhr/FilingaCharge/Pages/default.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Illinois Compiled Statutes ch. 775, act 5, art. 7A, §§ 102, 104.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Indiana Code § 22-9-1-2

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. https://www.in.gov/icrc/2651.htm
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Indiana Code §§ 22-9-1-16, 22-9-1-17.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Iowa Code § 216.7

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. https://icrc.iowa.gov/file-complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Iowa Code § 216.16.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Kansas Statutes § 44-1001 R

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Kansas Human Rights Commission. http://www.khrc.net/complaint.html
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Kansas Statutes § 44-1005.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Kentucky Revised Statutes §§ 344.120, 344.140, 344.145

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.
https://kchr.ky.gov/Pages/File-a-Complaint.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Kentucky Revised Statutes §§ 344.270, 344.450.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Louisiana Revised Statutes § 51:2247

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a Public Accommodations Discrimination Intake Form with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.
https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/form/home/28
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Louisana Revised Statutes § 51:2264.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Maine Revised Statutes tit. 5, §§ 4591, 4592

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission. https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Maine Revised Statutes tit. 5, §§ 4621, 4622.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Maryland State Government Code §§ 20-301 to 20-305

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.
https://mccr.maryland.gov/Pages/Intake.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Massachusetts General Laws ch. 272, § 98

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
https://www.mass.gov/file-a-complaint-of-discrimination
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Massachusetts General Laws ch. 151B, § 5 & ch. 272, § 98.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Michigan Compiled Laws §§ 37.1102, 37.1302, 37.2102, 37.2302


PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : Contact the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/0,4613,7-138-70682_67734-153171–,00.html
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Michigan Compiled Laws §§ 37.1606, 37.2801.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Minnesota Statutes §§ 363A.11, 363A.24

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
https://mn.gov/mdhr/intake/consultationinquiryform/
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Minnesota Statutes § 363A.33.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
No statewide public accommodation law for individuals based on race, color, or national origin. Check whether local public
accommodation laws ( e.g. , municipal ordinances) exist for your specific locality.
Examples of municipalities with public accommodation ordinances :
Jackson (Jackson Code of Ordinances, art. X, §§ 86-301 to 86-306).

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice or, if a local public accommodation law exists, with the specified local agency. https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Missouri Statutes §§ 213.065, 213.070

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
https://labor.mo.gov/mohumanrights/File_Complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Missouri Statutes § 213.076.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Montana Code § 49-2-304

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Montana Human Rights Bureau. http://erd.dli.mt.gov/human-rights
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Montana Code §§ 49-2-511, 49-2-512.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Nebraska Revised Statutes §§ 20-132, 20-134, 20-135

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission.
https://neoc.nebraska.gov/complaint/complaint.html
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Nebraska Revised Statutes § 20-148.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Nevada Revised Statutes §§ 651.070, 651.080

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.
https://detr.nv.gov/Page/File_a_Charge_of_Discrimination
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Nevada Revised Statutes §§ 651.090, 651.120

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
New Hampshire Revised Statutes §§ 354-A:17, 354-A:18

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights.
https://www.nh.gov/hrc/howto.html Private right of action authorized by statute ? No.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
New Jersey Statutes § 10:5-12

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/filing.html
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
New Mexico Statutes §§ 28-1-7, 28-1-9

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a charge of discrimination with the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau.
https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Filing-a-Charge-of-Discrimination
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. New Mexico Statutes § 28-1-10.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
New York Civil Rights Law § 40-c; New York Executive Law § 296

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the New York Division of Human Rights. https://dhr.ny.gov/complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. New York Executive Law § 297.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
No statewide public accommodation law for individuals based on race, color, or national origin.
Check whether local public accommodation laws ( e.g. , municipal ordinances) exist for your specific
locality.
Examples of municipalities with public accommodation ordinances :
Charlotte (Charlotte Code of Ordinances, ch. 12, art. III, §§ 12-56 to 12-82). While North Carolina currently prohibits local governments from enacting or amending Noran ordinance regulating public accommodations, that statewide prohibition is currently set to expire on December 1, 2020. North Carolina Session Law 2017-4.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice or, if a local public accommodation law exists, with the specified local agency. https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
North Dakota Century Code §§ 14-02.4-14, 14.02.4-16

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
https://www.nd.gov/labor/human-rights/public-accommodation
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. North Dakota Century Code § 14-02.4-19.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Ohio Revised Code § 4112.02

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
https://crc.ohio.gov/FilingaCharge/ChargeFilingProcedure.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Ohio Revised Code § 4112.99.


PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Oklahoma Statutes tit. 25, § 1402

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement of the Oklahoma Attorney General.
http://www.oag.ok.gov/civil-rights-enforcement-unit
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 659A.403, 659A.406, 659A.409

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a questionnaire with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
https://www.oregon.gov/boli/civil-rights/Pages/public-places-discrim-complaint.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Oregon Revised Statutes § 659A.885.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Pennsylvania Statutes tit. 43, § 955

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
https://www.phrc.pa.gov/File-A-Complaint/Types-of-Complaints/Pages/DenialofServicesandFacilities.aspx
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Pennsylvania Statutes tit. 43, § 962.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Rhode Island General Laws § 11-24-2

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a charge with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights.
http://www.richr.ri.gov/filecharge/index.php
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Rhode Island General Laws §§ 11-24-4, 28-5-24.1.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
South Carolina Code §§ 45-9-10, 45-9-20, 45-9-30

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission.
https://schac.sc.gov/non-employment/how-file-public-accommodations-complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. South Carolina Code §§ 45-9-100, 45-9-110.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
South Dakota Codified Laws §§ 20-13-23, 20-13-25, 20-13-26

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Tennessee Code §§ 4-21-501, 4-21-502, 4-21-503

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.
https://www.tn.gov/humanrights/file-a-discrimination-complaint.html
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Tennessee Code § 4-21-311.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
No statewide public accommodation law for individuals based on race, color, or national origin. Check whether local public accommodation laws ( e.g. , municipal ordinances) exist for your specific locality. Examples of municipalities with public accommodation ordinances :
Dallas (Dallas Code of Ordinances, ch. 31, art. I, § 31-3); San Antonio (San Antonio Code of Ordinances, ch. 2, art. X, §§ 2-592 to 2-595)

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice or, if a local public accommodation law exists, with the specified local agency. https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Utah Code § 13-7-3

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Utah Office of the Attorney General.
https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/contact/complaint-form/
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Utah Code § 13-7-4.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Vermont Statutes tit. 9, § 4502

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission. https://hrc.vermont.gov/how-to-file
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Vermont Statutes tit. 9, § 4506.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Virginia Code § 2.2-3904

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Division of Human Rights of the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia.
https://www.oag.state.va.us/programs-initiatives/human-rights
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Virginia Code §§ 2.2-3907, 2.2-3908.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Washington Revised Code §§ 49.60.215, 49.60.220

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Washington Human Rights Commission. https://www.hum.wa.gov/file-complaint
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
West Virginia Code § 5-11-9

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the West Virginia Human Rights Commission.
https://hrc.wv.gov/Pages/ComplaintProcess.aspx and https://hrc.wv.gov/Links/Documents/Public%20Accommodation%20Background%20Information%20Form.pdf
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. West Virginia Code § 5-11-13.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Wisconsin Statutes § 106.52

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : File a complaint with the Equal Rights Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/civilrights/discrimination/publicaccommodation.htm and https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/forms/erd/erd_10241_e.htm
Private right of action authorized by statute ? Yes. Wisconsin Statutes § 106.52.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION STATUTE
Wyoming Statutes § 6-9-101

REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Reporting Violations : There is no clear contact in Wyoming state government to report a violation of Wyoming’s public accommodation statute. Consider contacting the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office.
http://wyomingdci.wyo.gov/
Private right of action authorized by statute ? No.