The Compliance Section is the civil rights enforcement operation of the Office of Human Rights. It has jurisdiction over private employers in Montgomery County (including the Montgomery County Government), real estate transactions (both housing and commercial real estate), and places of public accommodation. The Compliance Section receives, investigates and resolves formal complaints of discrimination. The Compliance Section specifically enforces Montgomery County Code, Chapter 27, Article 1.

• Employment Complaints are accepted based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, genetic status, family responsibilities, and gender identity.
• Real Estate Complaints are accepted on the bases of race, color, age, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, source of income, presence of children, family responsibilities, and gender identity.
• Public Accommodation Complaints are accepted on the bases of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, religious creed, and gender identity.

A structured intake process evaluates and validates intake inquiries. Once a complaint is accepted, both parties are offered mediation. If either or both parties decline mediation, or if mediation fails, cases are investigated and resolved or settled with the findings on the merits of the complaint. The Commission has the authority to order relief and penalties. A de novo public hearing (administrative trial) is mandatory for those discrimination cases that cannot be voluntarily settled after a finding of discrimination.

Complaint Questionnaires:

Please use the questionnaires below to submit information about your experience. Questionnaires are designed for intake use only and are not considered a formal complaint. A formal complaint must be approved at the intake stage, then signed and notorized.

• Public Accommodation Complaint Questionnaire
• Real Estate Complaint Questionnaire
• Employment Complaint Questionnaire