Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section works to protect some of the most fundamental rights of individuals, including the right to access housing free from discrimination, the right to access credit on an equal basis, the right to patronize places of business that provide public accommodations and the right to practice one’s faith free from discrimination.

The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section enforces:

the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing,

the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in credit,

Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in certain places of public accommodation, such as hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters. The Department of Justice can bring a lawsuit under Title II when there is reason to believe that a person has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of Title II. Individuals can also file suit to enforce their rights under Title II,

the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing land use regulations that discriminate against religious assemblies and institutions or which unjustifiably burden religious exercise,

and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which provides for the temporary suspension of judicial and administrative proceedings and civil protections in areas such as housing, credit and taxes for military personnel while they are on active duty.

Featured Items

Report on the Twentieth Anniversary of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)

​The Attorney General's 2019 Annual Report to Congress Pursuant to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act​​

Justice Department Launches Public Awareness Campaign with Victims of Sexual Harassment in Housing

Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing

Department of Justice Announces Place to Worship Initiative

Remarks by Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division at the Fair Housing Act 50th Anniversary

Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owner of Cullman, Alabama, Rental Property

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Borough of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, Over Denial of Zoning Approval for Orthodox Jewish House of Worship

Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Minnesota Bank to Resolve Allegations of Lending Discrimination

Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owners and Managers of New York Rental Properties

Justice Department Obtains $625,000 Settlement Of Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Two St. Louis Landlords

Justice Department Obtains Over $2 Million for Servicemembers Who Terminated Their Motor Vehicle Leases With BMW Financial Services

Justice Department Settles Discrimination Lawsuit Against Owners and Operators of Houston, Texas-Based Sports Bar

Justice Department Sues Springfield, Illinois, for Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities

Justice Department Files Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport

Justice Department Obtains $5.4 Million in Additional Relief to Compensate Servicemembers for Unlawful Repossessions by Wells Fargo Dealer Services

Fair Housing Testing Program

Fair Lending Program