Civil Rights Division
Who We Are
The Civil Rights Division has served the Austin community and surrounding areas since 1967 with the primary goal of promoting the fair treatment of all individuals. In 2020, the City of Austin created the Office of Civil Rights to help protect people from discrimination in jobs, housing and public services. The Civil Rights Division continues to do critical work within the City as an enforcement agency dedicated to protecting individuals from discrimination and ensuring equal rights for all. The Division’s primary role is to enforce civil rights laws across employment, housing, education, public accommodations, tenants’ right to organize and fair chance hiring interactions.
The Civil Rights Division is available to assist you if you believe your civil rights have been violated.
For more information on how to report or make a complaint, visit our Complaint Forms and General Inquiries Page.
What We Do
- Prevent
- Educate
- Investigate
- Resolve
Complaint Forms / General Inquiries
Have a question or need assistance? Please contact the Office of Civil Rights through one of these forms.
The City of Austin complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. The City of Austin does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.
If you need an interpreter or translation, please contact us at 512-974-3251.
Enforcement / Public Participation
The Office of Civil Rights addresses discrimination and allows public participation through the following areas:
- Employment
- Fair Housing
- Fair Chance Hiring
- Title VI
- Title II
- Public Accommodations
- Right to Organize
- Access to Public Programs/Services
- Local Ordinances
- Veteran Services
Notices
The City of Austin complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. The City of Austin does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If you need an interpreter or translation, please contact us at 512-974-3251.
- Language Access Plan
The purpose of this Language Access Plan (LAP or Plan) is to ensure meaningful access to benefits, services, information, and other important asked of the City of Austin and Office of Civil Rights programs and activities for individuals with LEP. To learn more, please review the Office of Civil Rights Language Access Plan.
- Title VI and Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
The City of Austin is committed to the enforcement and compliance of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related nondiscrimination authorities (49 CFR part 21, 49 CFR part 303).
The City remains dedicated to ensuring that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin (inclusive of Limited English proficiency), sex, age or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any Department programs or activities, regardless of the funding source.
Retaliation is prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. It is the policy of the City of Austin that any individual filing a discrimination complaint has the right to do so free from retaliation, intimidation, interference, coercion, or reprisal. This policy applies to all operations of the City, including its contractors and anyone who acts on behalf of the City.
A Title VI Coordinator has been designated to be responsible for monitoring the City's compliance with Title VI program requirements. Additionally, the Title VI Coordinator and Department executive leadership have been granted the authority and responsibility necessary to effectively administer the City's Title VI Program.
The City of Austin stands for nondiscrimination in all its programming and services.