How Does the Iowa Civil Rights Act Protect Me?
The Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 states that employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit considerations can not be based on a person's
- Color
- Creed
- Gender Identity*
- Marital Status
- Mental Disability
- National Origin
- Physical Disability
- Race
- Religion
- Retaliation
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
There is a limited allowance for discrimination in the following areas:
- Age: A person is protected from employment and credit discrimination.
- Family Status: A person is protected from housing and credit discrimination.
- Marital Status: A person is protected only from credit discrimination.
- Mental disability: A person is protected from all discrimination except credit discrimination.
The Iowa Office of Civil Rights serves all the people of Iowa. During a complaint process, you can expect:
- Neutral fact-finding
- Fairness and equality
- Timeliness
- Staff available to answer your questions
- Quality written analysis of cases
- A thorough knowledge of the job and performance of our duties
- Well-reasoned decisions.
The IOCR processes an average of 1,300 complaints each year.
The IOCR does not provide legal representation.
The following table shows the protected classes under chapter 216 of the Iowa Code.
| Protected Classes | Areas of Protection | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Housing | Public Accommodation | Education | Credit | |
| Age | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Color | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Creed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Familial Status | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Gender Identity* | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* |
| Marital Status | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Mental Disability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| National Origin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Physical Disability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Race | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Religion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Retaliation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sexual Orientation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*As of July 1, 2025, gender identity is no longer a protected basis under Iowa Code chapter 216. All complaints filed under chapter 216 must be filed within 300 days of the most recent alleged discriminatory incident. Civil rights complaints of alleged illegal discrimination on the basis of gender identity that are received prior to July 1, 2025, will be processed and investigated pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 216. New complaints of alleged discrimination based on gender identity filed after July 1, 2025, must follow the 300-day filing deadline. Therefore, individuals who believe they have been discriminated against based on gender identity may have until April 27, 2026, to file a complaint with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights regarding any conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 2025.