PUBLIC ACCESS
DISCRIMINATION
AND CIVIL RIGHTS
FACT SHEET
THE UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM
DISCRIMINATION BY ALL BUSINESS
ESTABLISHMENTS IN CALIFORNIA
The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides protection
from discrimination by all business
establishments in California, including housing
and public accommodations. The term “business
establishments” may include governmental and
public entities as well.
The language of the Unruh Civil Rights Act
specifically outlaws discrimination in housing
and public accommodations based on sex, race,
color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability,
medical condition, genetic information, marital
status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary
language, or immigration status. However, the
California Supreme Court has held that protections
under the Unruh Act are not necessarily restricted
to these characteristics.
The Act is meant to cover all arbitrary and
intentional discrimination by a business
establishment on the basis of personal
characteristics similar to those listed above.
The law also protects the rights of individuals
with disabilities to use streets, highways, and
other public places; public conveyances; places
of public accommodation, amusement or resort,
and housing accommodations; and guide, signal,
or service animals or alternative accommodations
for persons with disabilities. The law clearly
distinguishes between the right of a business
to refuse service based on conduct as opposed
to personal characteristics. The misconduct or
disruptive behavior of particular individuals may be
grounds for refusing to do business with them or
denying them services.
BUSINESSES COVERED
UNDER THE LAW
The Unruh Civil Rights Act requires “[f]ull and equal
accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges
or services in all business establishments.” This
includes, but is not limited to, the following places:
•
Hotels and motels
• Nonprot organizations that have a business
purpose or are a public accommodation
• Restaurants
• Theaters
• Hospitals
• Barber shops and beauty salons
• Housing accommodations – including rental
housing and shared-economy housing
• Public agencies
• Retail establishments
SENIOR HOUSING
The Unruh Civil Rights Act contains provisions
regulating the establishment of specialized housing
designed to meet the physical and/or social needs
of senior citizens.
Housing that meets these requirements is exempt
from the familial status and age provisions of
the Fair Employment and Housing Act and may,
therefore, legally exclude households with children.
Similar provisions are provided for senior citizen
mobile home parks under federal fair housing laws.
PUBLIC ACCESS DISCRIMINATION
AND CIVIL RIGHTS
FACT SHEET
EXAMPLES OF UNRUH ACT VIOLATIONS
The following examples represent potential violations
of the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Other situations may also
qualify as Unruh Act violations depending on the specific
circumstances:
•
A hotel charges a $100 service fee only to guests of a
certain racial group but not to other guests of the hotel
• A doctor refuses to treat a patient who has been
diagnosed as HIV positive
• A same-sex couple is denied a table at a restaurant
even though there are vacant tables available and
other customers are seated immediately
•
A visually impaired individual is told their service
animal is not allowed in a store
• Charging men and women different prices for
comparable services, such as clothing alterations,
haircuts, dry cleaning, or drinks at a restaurant
or bar
• Promoting a business with “ladies night” discounts
on admission and services
WHAT CRD DOES
The Civil Rights Department (CRD)
enforces this law by:
1. Investigating harassment and
discrimination complaints;
2. Assisting involved parties to
voluntarily resolve complaints;
3. Prosecuting violations of the law;
and
4. Educating Californians about the
Unruh Act by providing written
materials and participating in
seminars and conferences.
If you think you have been a victim of discrimination
based on a protected class, file a complaint. A CRD
complaint must be filed within one year from the
date of the last act of discrimination.
If you have a disability that requires a reasonable
accommodation, CRD can assist you by phone or,
for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing
or have speech disabilities, through the California
Relay Service (711), or you can contact us below.
TO FILE A COMPLAINT
Civil Rights Department
calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess
Toll Free: 800.884.1684
TTY: 800.700.2320
CRD-U01P-ENG / September 2022
