North Dakota Civil Rights Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Equal treatment under the law is referred to as civil rights, which are enforced by a combination of federal and state laws. In practice, civil rights laws primarily protect minorities, the disabled, women, and other historically marginalized groups of people from discrimination. These laws affect employment, public access, and housing. Federal civil rights protections apply to the states, such as the ban on age discrimination in an employment setting, but some states offer additional protections.
North Dakota Civil Rights Laws at a Glance
As required by federal law, discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability in the areas of employment, housing, and public access are prohibited in North Dakota. The state also lists "status with regard to marriage or public assistance" as a protected characteristic.
The North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights enforces these laws and investigates credible complaints. Check out the agency's Human Rights Protections summary for a helpful chart of civil rights protections in the state. If you believe your civil rights have been violated, submit your Complaint Inquiry form to state authorities.
Additional details about North Dakota's civil rights laws are listed in the following table. See FindLaw's Discrimination section for more articles and resources.
| Code Section | 14-02.4-01, et seq. |
| Statutory Policy on Discrimination | It is the policy of this state to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, the presence of any mental or physical disability, status with regard to marriage or public assistance, or participation in lawful activity off the employer's premises during nonworking hours which is not in direct conflict with the essential business-related interests of the employer; to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment relations, public accommodations, housing, state and local government services, and credit transactions; and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate. |
| Agency | Division of Human Rights |
| Administrative Preemption | No |
| Relief for Violations | The court may enjoin the respondent from engaging in the unlawful practice and order temporary or permanent injunctions, equitable relief, and backpay limited to no more than two years from the date a minimally sufficient complaint was filed with the department or the court. |
| Attorney Fees Recoverable by Plaintiff? | Yes |
| Statute of Limitations | 180 days (Housing); 300 days (Employment) |
Note: State laws are always subject to change through a number of ways, such as the enactment of newly signed legislation or the decisions of higher courts. Make sure you contact a North Dakota civil rights attorney or labor law attorney, or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
- North Dakota Law
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.