Maintained • ExpandArizona, California, Colorado...Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, USA (National/Federal), Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
Jurisdiction | Prohibited Discrimination | Limitations and Exceptions |
Arizona (Local Only) | ||
City of Tempe Effective December 9, 2021. | The Tempe Ordinance defines race as any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits as common among people of shared ancestry including hair texture and protective hairstyles historically associated with an individual's race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to:
|
City of Tucson Effective April 20, 2021. | The Tucson Ordinance defines race to include ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background, including hair texture, hair type, or protective hairstyles commonly or historically associated with race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to:
|
Arkansas (Statewide) Effective August 1, 2023. | The Arkansas Civil Rights Act (ACRA) defines race to include natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles. Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles include:
| The ACRA covers employers who employ nine or more employees in Arkansas for 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. (AR ST § 16-123-102 (10)). The ACRA does not apply to employment by a religious corporation, association, society, or entity. (AR ST § 16-123-103(a)). |
California (Statewide) Effective July 3, 2019. | The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) extends the definition of race to traits that are historically associated with race including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The California FEHA allows bona fide occupational qualification defenses (Cal. Gov. Code § 12940). |
Colorado (Statewide) Effective Sept. 14, 2020. | The Colorado Civil Rights Act defines race to include hair texture, hair type, or protective hairstyles commonly associated with race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This Colorado Civil Rights Act provides exceptions for:
|
Connecticut (Statewide) Effective March 4, 2021. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 46a-51(23), (24) and 46a-60 (banning discriminatory employment practices). | The Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities Act expands the definition of race to include physical ethnic traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Connecticut Human Rights Act provides exceptions for:
|
Delaware (Statewide) Effective April 13, 2021. 19 Del. C. §§ 710(18), (20) and 711 (defining unlawful employment practices). | The Delaware Discrimination in Employment Act defines race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Delaware Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits discrimination based on a factor that disproportionately affects one race unless the employer can show that the factor is a business necessity (Delaware Department of Labor's Office of Anti-Discrimination: Race/Color Discrimination). |
Florida (Local Only) | ||
Broward County Effective December 2, 2020. | The Broward County Code of Ordinances defines race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to hair texture, hair type, or protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with five or more employees. This provision does not apply to:
|
Georgia (Local Only) | ||
Clayton County Effective February 2, 2021. | The Clayton County Crown Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle, to include hair texture and styles of hair of any length, including protective or cultural hairstyles and other forms of groomed hair presentation. Protective and cultural hairstyles commonly associated with race (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps), include:
| This provision does not apply based on applicable national security or safety regulations issued by the State of Georgia or the federal government. |
City of East Point Effective April 19, 2021. | The East Point Crown Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle, to include hair texture and styles of hair of any length, including protective or cultural hairstyles and other forms of groomed hair presentation. Protective and cultural hairstyles commonly associated with race (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps), include:
| This provision does not apply based on applicable national security or safety regulations issued by the State of Georgia or the federal government. |
City of South Fulton Adopted November 10, 2020. | The South Fulton Crown Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle, to include hair texture and styles of hair of any length, including protective or cultural hairstyles and other forms of groomed hair presentation. Protective and cultural hairstyles commonly associated with race (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps), include:
| This provision does not apply based on applicable national security or safety regulations issued by the State of Georgia or the federal government. |
City of Stockbridge Effective December 23, 2020. | The Stockbridge Crown Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle, to include hair texture and styles of hair of any length, including protective or cultural hairstyles and other forms of groomed hair presentation. Protective and cultural hairstyles commonly associated with race (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps), include:
| This provision does not apply based on applicable national security or safety regulations issued by the State of Georgia or the federal government. |
Illinois (Statewide) Effective Jan. 1, 2023. | The Illinois Human Rights Act expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race including, but not limited to protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Illinois Human Rights Act allows exceptions for employer actions based on:
|
Kentucky (Local Only) | ||
City of Covington Effective October 27, 2020. | The Covington Code of Ordinances expands the definition of national origin to include natural texture and color of hair, hair styles and protective hair styles related to a person's place of birth or ancestry (does not include US regionalism), including:
| This provision applies to:
This provision does not apply to:
|
Louisville City of Louisville Effective July 15, 2021. | The Louisville Code of Ordinances expands the definition of national origin to include natural texture and color of hair, hair styles and protective hair styles related to a person's place of birth or ancestry (does not include US regionalism), including:
The ordinance also expands the definition of discrimination to include the unwanted touching of a person, or persons, including the touching of hair. | This provision does not apply to:
|
Louisiana (Statewide) Effective Aug. 1, 2022. | The Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law includes prohibiting discrimination on account of natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles include:
| The Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law provides an exception for employment practices in accordance with an affirmative action plan. |
Maine (Statewide) Effective Aug. 7, 2022. | The Maine Human Rights Act expands the definition of race to include traits associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Maine Human Rights Act provides exceptions for:
|
Maryland (Statewide) Effective Oct. 1, 2020. | The Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) expands the definition of race to include traits associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Maryland FEPA has an exception that allows employers to require:
|
Massachusetts (Statewide) Effective Oct. 24, 2022. | The Crown Act amends the Massachusetts anti-discrimination statute, Chapter 151B by defining race, as a characteristic protected under law to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, length, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
(M. G. L. A. c.151B 4 § 7). . | Thie Massachusetts anti-discrimination statute, Chapter 151B provides exceptions for:
(M. G. L. A. c.151B §§1 and 4). |
Michigan (Statewide and Local) | ||
Statewide Effective June 15, 2023. | The Michigan Crown Act adds the definition of race by defining race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
(MCL 37.2103 (Definitions).) | The Michigan Compiled Laws provide an exception for individuals employed by their parents, spouse, or child. |
Local | ||
City of Ann Arbor Effective July 9, 2021. | The City of Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances expands the definition of race to include traits associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to:
|
Ingham County Effective March 16, 2021. | The Ingham County Board of Commissioners expand the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to employers where age, sex, or lack of disability is a bona fide occupational qualification necessary to meet the labor force demands of the County. (Resolution No. 21-137). |
Genesee County Effective March 16, 2021. | The Genesee County Board of Commissioners expand the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| |
Minnesota (Statewide) Effective February 1, 2023. | The Minnesota Human Rights Act amends the definition of race to include traits associated with race, including hair textures and hair styles. Hair textures and hair styles include:
(MN Stat § 263A.03 (2022)). | This Minnesota Human Rights Act provides exceptions for:
(MN Stat § 263A.20 (2022)). |
Missouri (Local Only) | ||
Kansas City Effective November 1, 2020. | The Kansas City Code of Ordinances expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with six or more employees. This provision does not apply to:
(Ordinance No. 200837). |
St. Louis Effective May 7, 2021. | The City of St. Louis Code of Ordinances prohibit discrimination based on hairstyle, including hair textures and styles of any hair length such as protective and cultural hair textures and styles, and other forms of hair presentation. Protective hair is defined as natural and cultural hair textures and hairstyles, including hairstyles and hair textures commonly associated with race (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps). Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with six or more employees. This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Title 15, Division II, Chapter 15.21. 15.21.010 Definitions, 15.21.020 Prohibitions). |
Nebraska (Statewide) Effective July 26, 2021. | The Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) expands the definition of race to include traits associated with race, including hair texture, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
(Neb. Rev. St. 48-1102(19), (20).) (New text in 2021 Nebraska Laws L.B. 451.) | The Nebraska FEPA provides for an exception for bona fide health and safety reasons if reasonable accommodations are provided (Neb. Rev. St. 48-1108(3)). In addition, law enforcement organizations can impose their own dress and grooming standards (Neb. Rev. St. 48-1108(4)). (New text in 2021 Nebraska Laws L.B. 451.) |
Nevada (Statewide) Effective June 2, 2021. | The Nevada Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) defines race to include traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Nevada FEPA covers employers who employ 15 or more employees for 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Thie Neveda FEPA provides exceptions for:
|
New Jersey (Statewide) Effective Dec. 19, 2019. | New Jersey's Anti-discrimination law defines race as inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including hair types, hair texture, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The New Jersey Anti-discrimination law provides exceptions for:
(N.J.S.A. 10:5-5(f) and 10:5-12(11)(a).) |
New Mexico (Statewide) Effective July 1, 2021. | The New Mexico Human Rights Act defines race to include hair texture, length of hair, protective hairstyles, or cultural or religious headdresses as traits historically associated with race. Protective hairstyles include:
| Any exceptions to the New Mexico Human Rights Act must be based on a bona fide occupational qualification (NMSA 1978, §28-1-7(A), (D), €). |
New York (Statewide) Effective July 12, 2019. | New York's Human Rights Law expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| There is a general exception under the New York Human Rights Law for bona fide occupational qualification(s) (N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(1)(d)). |
North Carolina (Local Only) | ||
City of Charlotte Effective October 1, 2021. | The City of Charlotte expands discrimination protections to include natural hairstyle historically associated with race or national origin, including:
| This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Article III, Sec.12-84.-Exemptions). |
City of Durham Effective July 1, 2021. | The City of Durham expands discrimination protections to include protected hairstyle (hairstyle, hair type, or hair texture) historically associated with race, including:
| |
City of Greensboro Effective July 1, 2021. | The City of Greensboro expands the definition of race and national origin to explicitly include hair texture and hairstyles that are commonly associated with race and national origin. | |
Orange County Approved March 2, 2021. | The Orange County Board of Commissioners expand the definitions of national origin, religion, and race to include discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race, national origin, or religion, including:
| |
Wake County Effective February 1, 2022. | The Wake County Board of Commissioners expands discrimination protections to include protective hairstyles (hairstyle, hair type or hair texture) historically associated with race, including:
| |
City of Raleigh Effective July 6, 2021. | The City of Raleigh expands the definition of race and national origin to include discrimination based on an individual's hair texture or hair style, if that hair texture or hairstyle is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, including:
| |
Ohio (Local Only) | ||
City of Akron Effective May 11, 2021. | The City of Akron expands the definition of race to mean ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background, including traits historically associated with a particular race or national origin, including hair texture, and hairstyles. Hair texture and hairstyles include:
| |
City of Cincinnati Effective January 1, 2020. | The City of Cincinnati expands discrimination protections to include natural hair types and natural hairstyles (hairstyle, hair type or hair texture, treated or untreated) historically associated with race, and protective hairstyles (commonly associated with African American racial, ethnic, and cultural identities), including:
| This provision does not apply to:
|
City of Columbus Effective December 17, 2020. | The City of Columbus expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair textures and protective and cultural hairstyles. Protective and cultural hairstyles are those commonly associated with race, (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps). Protective and cultural hairstyles include:
| |
Oregon (Statewide) Effective Jan 1, 2022. | The Oregon Equality Act expands the definition of race to prohibit discrimination based on physical characteristics historically associated with race, including natural hair, hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include any hairstyle, hair color, or the way a person wears their hair, including:
(Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 659A.001(10), (11).) (New text in 2021 Oregon Laws Ch. 239 (H.B. 2935).) | The Oregon Equality Act allows exceptions for a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the employer's business (Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 659A.030(1)(a)). In addition, the employer may have a dress code policy if that policy does not disproportionately or adversely impact members of a protected class (Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 659A.030(5)). |
Pennsylvania (Statewide and Local) Effective Aug. 16, 2023. | The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
(Pa. Code §§ 41.204 and 41.207). | The PHRA allows exceptions for a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the employer's business (Pa. Code § 41.71). |
Local | ||
City of Philadelphia Effective November 10, 2020. | The City of Philadelphia expands discrimination protections to include hair textures and styles of hair of any length, including protective or cultural hairstyles, natural hair styles, and other forms of hair presentation. Protective and cultural hair styles, (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps), include:
| This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Title 9, Chapter 9-1100, § 9-1104). Exemptions from Unlawful Employment Practices). |
City of Pittsburgh Effective October 23, 2020. | The City of Pittsburgh expands discrimination protections to include protective and cultural hair textures and hair styles commonly associated with race, (regardless of whether hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any style or whether hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads or headwraps). Protective and cultural hairstyles include:
| |
Tennessee (Statewide) Effective July 1, 2022. | The Tennessee Crown Act prohibits an employer from adopting a policy that prohibits an employee from wearing their hair in braids, locs, twists, or another manner that is part of the cultural identification of the employee's ethnic group or that is a physical characteristic of the employee's ethnic group (TN ST § 50-1-313(b)). | The Tennessee Crown Act allows exceptions for:
|
Texas (Statewide and Local) | ||
Statewide Effective September 21, 2023. | The Texas Crown Act:
(Tex. Labor Code § 21.1095(b) and (c)). The Texas Crown Act defines protective hairstyle to include:
| The Texas Crown Act allows exceptions for:
|
Local | ||
City of Austin Effective June 20, 2022. | The City of Austin expands discrimination protections to include protective hairstyles (hairstyles necessitated by, or resulting from, the characteristics of a hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with race, national origin, ethnicity, or culture), including:
| This provision applies to employers who employ 15 or more employees for 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. This provision does not apply to bona fide occupational qualifications. (Code of Ordinances, Chapter5-3, § 5-3-2-Definitions and 5-3-4-Unlawful Employment Practices) |
Virginia (Statewide) Effective July 1, 2020. | The Virginia Human Rights Act expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The Virginia Human Rights Act applies to employers with five or more employees. The Virginia Human Rights Act allows exceptions for:
|
Washington (Statewide) Effective July 1, 2020. | The Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) defines race to include traits historically associated or perceived to be associated with race, including hair textures and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include:
| The WLAD has a general exception for bona fide occupational qualification(s) (RCW 49.60.180). |
West Virginia (Local Only) | ||
City of Beckley Effective May 11, 2021. | The City of Beckley defines race to include discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with a particular race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with 12 or more employees. This provision does not apply to bona fide occupational qualifications. (Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 10, Article IV, Division 1, Sec, 10-400.-Definitions and 10-450.-Enumeration). |
City of Charleston Effective June 7, 2021. | The City of Charleston defines race to include discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with a particular race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with 12 or more employees. This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62, Article 1, Sec. 62.3.-Definitions). |
City of Lewisburg Effective June 15, 2021. | The City of Lewisburg defines race to include discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with a particular race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision applies to employers with twelve or more employees. This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Part One, Chapter Five, Article 137, 137.07 Definitions). |
City of Morgantown Effective March 2, 2021. | The City of Morgantown defines race to include discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with a particular race. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to religious organizations employing individuals based on their religion, performing religious activity. |
Wisconsin (Local Only) | ||
Dane County Effective January 11, 2021. | The Dane County Board of Supervisors expands discrimination protections to include protective hair styles. Protective hairstyles include:
| This provision does not apply to religious organizations employing individuals based on their religion performing religious activity. |
Milwaukee Effective January 19, 2021. | The City of Milwaukee expands discrimination protections to include protective hair styles (hairstyles necessitated by, or resulting from, the characteristics of a hair texture associated with race), including:
| This provision does not apply to:
(Code of Ordinances, Chapter 109). |