Complaint Forms / General Inquiries
Everyone Deserves Fair Treatment
Request Information and Assistance
The City of Austin complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and local ordinances. If you have faced discrimination in work, housing, or public services, Austin Equity and Inclusion’s Civil Rights Division is here to help.
If you would like for someone from the Civil Rights Division to contact you, please reach out to us at 512-974-3251 or email us at civilrights@austintexas.gov
If you need an interpreter or translation, please contact us by phone at 512-974-3251 or by email at civilrights@austintexas.gov
Civil Rights and Discrimination Complaint Forms
Use the dropdowns below for descriptions of each civil rights category or ordinance. Forms are available in English and Spanish.
- Language Access
The City of Austin's language access policy requires certain public-facing agencies to offer interpretation services in any language and to translate important documents into at least the top twelve most common non-English languages in the city. If you have had trouble with City of Austin language access services, please complete the Language Access Complaint form.
File a Complaint - Spanish
- Discrimination (Title VI)
The City of Austin, as a recipient of Federal financial assistance and under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes, ensures that no person shall on the grounds of race, income status, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination or retaliation under any federally or non-federally funded City programs or activities administered by the City or its contractors.
- Any person who believes that he or she, individually, or as a member of any specific class has been subject to discrimination may file a complaint. A complaint may also be filed by a representative on behalf of such a person or group
- Title VI complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged act of discrimination. Complaints must include the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged discrimination.
- Complaints can be submitted to TxDOT’s Civil Rights Division by completing the External Discrimination Complaint Form. The complaint form requires detailed information, including signatures.
- TxDOT will determine which agency has jurisdiction to handle the complaint. If TxDOT does not have jurisdiction, the complaint will be routed to the appropriate agency for investigation. If TxDOT does have jurisdiction, the complaint will be investigated, and an attempt will be made to determine the proper course of action.
- The City Manager or their Designee for the city department will be informed of the complaint by copy of the appropriate complaint correspondence or other appropriate means.
- Agencies will request documents and information from the complainant, schedule interviews with relevant parties, and conduct site visits as necessary.
- No person who has filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in the investigation of a complaint, shall be intimidated, threatened, coerced, or discriminated against in retaliation for such participation.
File a Complaint - Spanish
- Employment
Not all employers are covered by the laws we enforce, and not all employees are protected. This can vary depending on the type of employer, the number of employees it has, and the type of discrimination alleged. Also, there are strict time limits for filing a charge that you should be aware of. Because of this, we strongly urge you to read the following information to help determine your rights and what action you need to take.
- Coverage
Is your employer covered? Are you protected? - Timeliness
How long do you have to file a charge? - Know Your Rights - Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
If you believe you have been discriminated against under non-discrimination laws, please complete the Employment Discrimination form and an Employment Intake Investigator will get in touch with you.
File a Complaint - Spanish
- Coverage
- Fair Housing
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, and disability. It also requires that all federal programs relating to housing and urban development be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.
In February 2016, Austin City Council adopted Chapter 2-14 which allows City staff to modify a City of Austin requirement (related to residential property) for a person with a disability and outlines a process for how to request reasonable accommodations.
As a Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), the Civil Rights Division also accepts complaints of discrimination based on: creed, student status, marital status, age, or source of income under City of Austin Ordinance.
Learn more about Fair Housing by visiting the the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development site.
File a Complaint - Spanish
- Tenant's Right to Organize
§ 4-14-121 of the City’s Municipal Code of Ordinances, purpose of this article is to grant a right to a tenant to establish or participate in a tenant organization. A landlord may not intentionally interfere or allow another to interfere with a tenant's right to exercise the activities defined in Section 4-14-124 (Right Established).
- Public Accommodations
Under TITLE 5. - CIVIL RIGHTS. | Code of Ordinances a person is entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a public accommodation, without discrimination or segregation based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protective hairstyle, reproductive health action, or disability. Public accommodations are privately-owned spaces that serve and are open to the general public, including restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and places of exhibition or entertainment (such as a bar with live music, a sports stadium, or a movie theater). Title II does not cover all businesses open to the public, such as places that require membership, private clubs, or government agencies.
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the City of Austin will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, the City of Austin will provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in City of Austin programs, services, and activities. Additionally, reasonable modifications to City of Austin policies and programs will be made to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Rental Fee Transparency Ordinance - Applies on or after October 1, 2026
Chapter 4-14, Article 4. Fee Disclosure
Learn more about the Rental Fee Transparency ordinance here.
Under this ordinance landlords are required to disclose all additional fees outside of the cost of rent during the leasing process before a tenant signs the lease. The ordinance also establishes standards for disclosing rental fees to potential tenants, including a disclosure form and required advertisement of fixed, recurring fees.
There are two separate dates on which the ordinance will go into effect:
- October 1, 2026: This ordinance applies on and after October 1, 2026, to a person who rents, leases, or manages 50 or more dwellings that are used as a residence.
- January 1, 2027: This ordinance applies on and after January 1, 2027, to a person who rents, leases, or manages:
- Less than 50 dwellings that are used as a resident or
- Spaces for mobile home or recreational vehicles that are used as a residence.
Use the following form in English or Spanish to report a possible violation of the City of Austin Rental Fee Disclosure Fee Ordinance. A tenant, prospective tenant, or other person who believes a property owner or landlord has violated the Rental Fee Disclosure Ordinance may file a complaint.