Washington Civil Rights Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
The term "civil rights" refers to the rights of all individuals to receive equal treatment under the law, typically applied to employment and landlord-tenant relationships. Federal civil rights protections, particularly anti-discrimination laws, apply to employers in all states. But many states offer additional protections. Washington, for example, prohibits discrimination on the basis of one's sexual orientation or gender identity, use of a service animal, or marital status. Breastfeeding mothers also are protected in public places.
The main provisions of Washington's civil rights laws are listed in the table below. See FindLaw's Civil Rights section for more information.
| Code Section | 49.60.010, et seq. |
| Agency | Human Rights Commission |
| Administrative Preemption | No |
| Private Action Permitted? | Yes |
| Attorney Fees Recoverable by Plaintiff? | Yes |
| Statute of Limitations | 6 months except real estate 1 yr. |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact a Washington civil rights attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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