The image is a cover page for the Annual Report of the Office of Civil Rights for the fiscal year 2022-2023. The top part of the image displays the logo of the City of Austin and the Office of Civil Rights. Below the text, there is a panoramic view of downtown Austin, showcasing the city's skyline with buildings and a river in the foreground during dusk.
Protestors marching in the streets

Office of Civil Rights

Who We Are

The City of Austin, Civil Rights enforces local fair employment and fair housing ordinances under contract with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In alignment with this commitment, the Office of Civil Rights promotes fair employment and fair housing with local outreach and events. 

Civil Rights works strategically to promote visibility, transparency, accountability, and responsibility. The primary goal is promoting the fair treatment of all individuals in the areas of Employment, Housing, Fair Chance, Title VI, Title II, Veteran Services and Public Accommodations.

In 2020, the City of Austin took bold steps to secure civil rights protections for Austinites by creating the Office of Civil Rights. In February of 2021, with the hire of its first ever Civil Rights Officer, the Office of Civil Rights is charged with enforcing civil rights protections which guarantee equal social and economic opportunities, and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, color, or other personal characteristics. In 2024, the Office of Civil Rights became a division of the larger Office of Equity and Inclusion. The Office of Equity and Inclusion has 3 divisions: Civil Rights, Equity, and Human Rights.

Examples of civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to government services, the right to a public education, the right to gainful employment, the right to housing, the right to use public facilities, freedom of religion. Civil rights are an essential component of democracy; when individuals are being denied opportunities to participate in political society, they are being denied their civil rights. In contrast to civil liberties, which are freedoms that are secured by placing restraints on government, civil rights are secured by positive government action, often in the form of legislation.

Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of the individual's membership in a particular group or class. Civil rights laws attempt to guarantee full and equal citizenship for people who have traditionally been discriminated against on the basis of some group characteristic.

The Civil Rights division is available to assist you if you believe your civil rights have been violated. 

What We Do

  • Prevent
  • Educate
  • Investigate
  • Resolve

Enforcement and 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
  • Community Engagement awards recognizing her efforts and support of small and minority businesses.  
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.

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.