If you believe you have been discriminated against in housing, employment, public accommodations or educational institutions within the District of Columbia, you can file a complaint with the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR). OHR has jurisdiction over complaints of discrimination against private sector and District government entities. The following is a basic overview of what to expect:
- Written Complaint: Submit an intake questionnaire within one year of the alleged discriminatory act.*
- Intake Assessment/Appointment: OHR will assess the intake questionnaire for follow-up or to schedule an intake appointment. If OHR lacks jurisdiction, the complaint will be closed. [EF1] [BR2]
- Charge Docketed & Served: After the intake process, OHR may docket an official Charge of Discrimination and serve it on the Respondent.
- Mediation: Scheduled after service of the Charge of Discrimination.
- The DC Human Rights Act requires that all cases are mediated.
- Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program implemented by OHR that seeks to resolve the complaint before a full investigation begins.
- Click here for more information about Alternative Dispute Resolution.
- Full Investigation: If mediation fails, OHR conducts a full investigation, which may include witness interviews and requests for information and documents.
- Determination: Based on the investigative record, OHR determines whether there is probable cause to believe that the Respondent engaged in unlawful discrimination and issues a Letter of Determination.**
- Request for Reconsideration: Either party may submit a one-time internal appeal of the Determination, called a Request for Reconsideration, to OHR within 15 days of receipt of the Determination.
- Petition for Review: If no probable cause is found, or the matter is dismissed prior to a Determination, the complainant may file a petition for review with the DC Superior Court within 30 days of the decision.
* DC government employees must consult an EEO counselor within 180 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act. The counselor will attempt to resolve the complaint informally, but if those efforts fail, the counselor will issue an “exit letter.” The employee must submit the intake questionnaire to OHR within 15 days of the date of the exit letter.
**If a case is cross-filed with the EEOC, Complainant may submit a request for substantial weight review to the EEOC within 15 days of receipt of the letter of determination.
OHR also accepts complaints from individuals who cannot access DC government services (including services provided by DC government contractors or grantees, i.e., funded entities) in their preferred language.
This Webpage Was Last Updated on July 8, 2025