Filing a Complaint of Discrimination

Acts of discrimination within the City of Columbia are prohibited by law under Chapter 12 of the City of Columbia Code of Ordinances.

Chapter 12, Section 12-59. provides the following penalties for violation of the discriminatory practices outlined in Chapter 12, Article III of the Code of Ordinances:

"Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

The Human Rights Commission is authorized to investigate complaints of discrimination in the following three (3) areas:

1. Employment,
2. Public Accommodation, and
3. Housing which includes:
   • The Sale or Rental of Dwellings,
   • Real Estate Loans, and
   • Acceptance of Membership in Real Estate Sales Organizations

Charges of discrimination in these three areas must have a basis for the charge.  A complaint of discrimination must be based on one or more of the following protected categories:

• Race / Racism
• Color
• National Origin
• Ancestry
• Sex
• Religion
• Disability/Handicap
• Marital Status
• Sexual Orientation
• Age (Employment Only)
• Familial Status (Housing Only)

These protected categories are defined in Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances.

If you feel you have been discriminated against in employment, public accommodation or housing on the basis of one of these protected categories, you should review the information on the following pages and contact the Human Rights Investigator to discuss the specifics of your complaint.

• General Information for Complainants and Respondents
• Procedures for Filing and Investigating Complaints of Discrimination
• Printable Discrimination Complaint Form

Other alternatives for filing complaints of discrimination include various other state and federal organizations such as the State of Missouri Commission on Human Rights or the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Depending on the type of discrimination alleged, you may want to submit your complaint to these other agencies. Filing a complaint with either the Columbia Human Rights Commission or the Missouri Commission on Human Rights must take place within 180 days of the last act of alleged discrimination.