Civil Rights Division

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About the Civil Rights Division

The North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), Civil Rights Division (CRD), Employment Discrimination Section is responsible for investigating charges of employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or charges alleging retaliation for opposition to such discrimination brought by previous and current state employees or applicants for employment for positions covered by North Carolina General Statute 126 - the North Carolina Human Resources Act, including county social services, mental health, public health and civil preparedness employees.  OAH was desigated as a 706 deferral agency by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the North Carolina General Assembly and therefore charges are dually filed, that is, charges initially filed with one agency are also considered to have been filed with the other agency. The worksharing agreement established with EEOC provides the conditions under which this joint workload is divided for processing.     

The Civil Rights Division, Housing Discrimination Section is responsible for enforcing the State’s Fair Housing Act, North Carolina General Statute 41A, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, handicapping condition or familial status in residential real estate transactions. The law applies to the sale, rental and financing of residential housing. Apartments, houses, mobile homes and even vacant lots to be used for housing are covered by the Fair Housing Act. With a few exceptions, anyone who has control over residential property and real estate financing must obey the law. This includes rental managers, property owners, real estate agents, landlords, banks, developers, builders and individual homeowners who are selling or renting their property.

The Civil Rights Division includes the North Carolina Human Relations Commission which provides services and programs aimed at improving relationships among all citizens of the state, while seeking to ensure equal opportunities in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, recreation, education, justice and governmental services.  Further, the commission also serves as a resource to Community Development Block Grant recipients in helping them develop adequate Fair Housing plans. The Human Relations Commission supports and works with local autonomous commissions throughout the state of North Carolina.