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Office of Civil Rights
WHAT IS PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS?

Public Accommodations
You have the right to enter businesses or social service agencies, and to receive their goods and services with dignity and without discrimination. Federal, state and local public accommodations laws say that no one can deny access or service to people or treat them differently in places of business because of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, parental status, marital status, disability or sexual orientation (includes gender identity). These groups are called "protected bases."

Who Enforces Public Accommodations Laws?

The U.S. Department of Justice enforces Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Local civil rights agencies enforce local public accommodations laws and ordinances. We want everyone to know about these protections and what to do if discrimination happens.
 Scales of Justice

What Must Business Owners and Their Staff Do?

Here are some of the important requirements of public accommodations laws:

Open Door
  • Access to Services: Everyone is entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation. These laws make sure they don't take your protected class into account. For example, a store clerk cannot refuse to wait on you because you are gay or because you have a disability.

    • Same People
  • Similar treatment: Public accommodations laws help ensure that businesses treat customers and clients alike. Business owners and their staff must apply the same rules to everyone. For example, they cannot ask a customer to show more ID cards than others just because she wears Muslim style clothing. Or a clerk cannot follow a customer who is Hispanic around a store because of his race.


    • People
  • Segregation: These laws do not allow businesses to segregate customers because of their protected basis. For example, a dance studio could not make customers who don't speak English take a different class from others.

    • Open Door
  • No harassment: Public accommodations laws do not allow harassment. If someone makes negative comments to a customer because of his protected basis, the business management must do something about it. A business owner must stop an employee from calling a client racial names. Or a manager should stop a clerk who whistles at female customers.


    • International Symbol of Access

  • Disability Access: People with disabilities sometimes need "accommodations" so that they can enjoy the same services as others. Business owners and their staff must provide reasonable accommodations. For example, a grocery clerk should assist a blind customer who cannot read labels. Or a person who uses a wheelchair might need a ramp to the front door of his dentist's office.



    • What To Do If Discrimination Happens To You

    Civil rights offices investigate discrimination complaints for free. If a business or social service agency has done something that you think might be discrimination, you can contact a civil rights agency. Tell the investigator what happened and why you think your "protected basis" caused the negative action. If you file a complaint, the investigator will look at records, interview witnesses, and collect evidence to see if there is proof that discrimination happened. If the evidence shows discrimination, the business owner will need to change the situation and in most cases, pay back the customer for the damage done by the discrimination.

    Everyone has a right to enter and do business in places of public accommodations. Fair business practices are not only the right thing to do — it's also good business. Business owners are not expected to provide special treatment for anyone, just equal treatment.

    Know your public accommodations rights! If you think discrimination occurred, do something about it!

    Updated: Dec. 29, 2006

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