Title VI: Civil Rights Act

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The City of Seattle follows Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This law protects you from discrimination based on your race, color, or national origin in city programs, services, or activities that receive federal funds. 

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to making sure everyone is treated fairly and equally. The City of Seattle prohibits discrimination in any city program, service, facilities, and contracts based on disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, pregnancy outcomes, religion or creed, ancestry, caste, veteran or military status, breastfeeding in public, using a service animal in public places. 

If You Experience Discrimination

If you think you have experienced discrimination, you can file a complaint with us. Here's how:

For complaints about disability discrimination or to request ADA accommodations, contact our ADA Coordinator:  

We are here to help. Contact the Seattle Office for Civil Rights for more information on the City’s antidiscrimination laws and compliance with Title VI. We offer translation and interpretation services for free. 

Title VI Complaint Process

If you feel that the City of Seattle has discriminated against you because of your race, color, national origin, you can make a complaint to the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) following these steps:  

Step 1: Contact Us

You can file a complaint online here, or call us at (206) 684-4500, TTY: 7-1-1. Remember, complaints must be made within 180 days of the incident.

Step 2: Let's Talk

We will arrange a time to talk about your situation and see if there is enough information for a Title VI complaint.  

Step 3: Make the Complaint

If there is enough information, we’ll help you write a formal complaint for you to sign. We will then notify the relevant City of Seattle department about the complaint.

Cases involving construction, maintenance, preservation of streets, sidewalks, highways, or bridges and tunnels will be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration.

Step 4: Early Resolution

You and the City of Seattle department will have an opportunity to participate in early resolution to address the complaint. Early resolution requires voluntary consent by all parties.

Step 5: Investigation  

If early resolution doesn't work, an investigator will gather information, conduct interviews, and analyze the facts within 100 days of filing the complaint.

Step 6: Decision  

SOCR will determine if there is enough evidence to show a Title VI violation.

Investigations involving construction, maintenance, preservation of streets, sidewalks, highways, or bridges and tunnels will be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration. You also have the option to file a Title VI complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration's Office for Civil Rights:

What We Do 

The City of Seattle provides the following services: 

Equitable Access. Prevent discrimination in all our programs, services, and contracts. 

Disability Access. Make sure people with disabilities can access and benefit from our programs, services, and activities. 

Language Access. Provide information and services in your preferred language. 

Environmental Justice. Improve health, environmental, social, and economic outcomes for communities most impacted by environmental injustice.

Contracting Equity. Increase contracting and purchasing with women and minority-owned businesses (WMBE). 

Transportation Equity. Collaborate with communities to develop a transportation system that is racially equitable and socially just.

Civil Rights

Derrick Wheeler-Smith, Director
Address: 810 3rd Avenue , Suite 750, Seattle, WA, 98104-1627
Phone: (206) 684-4500
civilrights@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) works to advance civil rights and end barriers to equity. We enforce laws against illegal discrimination in employment, housing, public places, and contracting within Seattle.