Your rights · New York
Discrimination & civil rights
The New York State Human Rights Law protects more people than federal law, in employment, housing and public places, and lets you complain to the Division of Human Rights or go to court.
Discrimination at work, in housing and in stores, harassment, reasonable accommodation, where to complain.
Your rights
What you're entitled to, who qualifies, how much and by when — each right with the section of law behind it.
Common situations
What the situation means, what usually decides it, and the ways to respond.
- SituationDiscrimination at work in New York: your rights under the Human Rights Law and where to fileIn New York it is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire, fire, pay less, or otherwise treat you worse because of your age, race, creed, color,…
- SituationHousing discrimination in New York: refused an apartment, Section 8 voucher rejected, or treated differentlyUnder New York's Human Rights Law, a landlord, owner, managing agent or broker can't refuse to rent to you, set different terms, or advertise a…
- SituationSexual harassment at work in New York: what counts, what your employer must do, and how to actNew York's Human Rights Law makes harassment at work illegal when it treats you worse because of your sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or…
The official sources on this topic
Every page here rests on statutes, regulations and government sites. These are the ones that come up most on this topic:
- N.Y. Executive Law § 296 — Unlawful discriminatory practices(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Executive Law § 292 — Human Rights Law definitions(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Executive Law § 297 — Complaints and court actions(opens in a new tab)
- Report Discrimination(opens in a new tab)
- NYC Commission on Human Rights — Complaint Process(opens in a new tab)
- Time Limits For Filing A Charge(opens in a new tab)
When you need an answer about your own situation
These pages explain the general rules. A first answer about your own situation is free; the full check confirms every legal point against the statute it cites, and a letter is written only on top of it.