Illinois Civil Rights Laws
Learn about your state's laws by using the links below.
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.
Civil rights refer collectively to the rights of individuals to receive fair and equal treatment under the law. Most civil rights laws come from the federal government, particularly those pertaining to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition to race, gender, and other classes of individuals also protected by federal law, Illinois civil rights laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and order of protection status.
The following table highlights the manner in which Illinois civil rights laws are handled. See FindLaw's Civil Rights section to learn more.
| Code Section | 775 ILCS 5/1-101 and 102; 5/7A-102 and 104 |
| Agency | Human Rights Commission and Dept. of Human Rights |
| Administrative Preemption | Yes |
| Private Action Permitted? | Yes, for temporary relief |
| Attorney Fees Recoverable by Plaintiff? | Yes |
| Statute of Limitations | 180 days |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an Illinois civil rights attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
- Illinois Law
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.