How To File a Discrimination Complaint, Case Processing & Services

Discrimination means acting or failing to act or unduly delaying any action regarding any person because of race, sex, creed, religion, national origin, color, age, occupation, personal appearance, political opinion, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, familial status, source of income or gender identity in such a way that such persons are adversely affected in housing, employment, financing, law enforcement, or public accommodations.

To begin the process, you must contact the Office of Human Rights & Equity by:

1. Telephone – (410) 313-6430; or
2. Call to schedule an appointment; or 
3. Complete an online inquiry form found on OHRE’s website. 

*None of the above actions are considered the filing of a formal complaint. 

For questions and concerns, please contact our office at ohre@howardcountymd.gov or give us a call at 410-313-6430.

Any person can file a Complaint if the incident of alleged discrimination occurred in Howard County. The Complaint must be filed within 6 months (Employment, Public Accommodation, Finance and Law Enforcement) or within 1 year (Housing) of the alleged discrimination. In the case of Employment discrimination, the employer must have 5 or more employees.

OHRE will complete its investigation within 180 days (Employment, Public Accommodation, Finance and Law Enforcement) or within 100 days (Housing).  These deadlines may be extended due to extenuating circumstances.

Based on the evidence, OHRE will issue a finding of No Reasonable Cause (NRC) or Reasonable Cause (RC) to believe that the Complainant experienced discrimination.  

Mediation is a method of resolving the dispute without the time and expense of an investigation. OHRE will ask if you would like to mediate the matter with a trained mediator at OHRE.  Both parties must agree to mediate. 

If OHRE issued a Reasonable Cause finding, the Administrator will contact the parties to attempt to arrange a settlement before it is sent to the Human Rights Commission for a public hearing.

If OHRE issued a finding of No Reasonable Cause the Complainant may appeal the finding to the Human Rights Commission. The appeal must be filed within 20 days of the date that the Finding was issued. Appeals must be in writing and sent to The Human Rights Commission by email or mailed to HRC at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 237, Columbia, MD 21046.

The Human Rights Commission will hold public hearings on a granted appeal or a Reasonable Cause finding that does not settle. The Complainant must present all evidence of the alleged discrimination and damages. Any party to the proceedings may appeal the decision and order of the HRC to the Circuit Court of Howard County within thirty (30) days.

The Complainant can file their case in the Circuit Court for Howard County after forty-five (45) days of filing a complaint in the OHRE.  In an employment case, the Complainant may also request a Right to Sue letter from EEOC ninety (90) days after the complaint has been filed with OHRE. If the Complainant chooses either of these options, the complaint in OHRE will be closed.