Omaha, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. IV (2026) § 13-381

Enforcement by private persons

In Force
Verified 10/12/2026 · Next check 11/11/2026
OmahaFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Omaha, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. IV (2026) § 13-381
To the extent that the following is consistent with state and federal law: (a)
An aggrieved person may commence a civil action in an appropriate court not later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice, or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered into under this article, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice or breach.
(b) The computation of such two-year period shall not include any time during which an administrative proceeding under this article was pending with respect to a complaint or charge under this article based upon such discriminatory housing practice. This subsection does not apply to actions from breach of a conciliation agreement.
(c) An aggrieved person may commence a civil action under this article whether or not a complaint has been filed under section 13-351 and without regard to the status of any such complaint, but, if the director or the federal or state agency has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of an aggrieved person, no action may be filed pursuant to this article by such aggrieved person with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice which forms the basis for such complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of such an agreement.
(d) An aggrieved person may not commence a civil action under this article with respect to an alleged discriminatory housing practice which forms the basis of a charge issued by the director if the civil rights hearing board has commenced a hearing on the record under this article with respect to such charge.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 13-381 of the Omaha Code of Ordinances establishes that individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices generally have the right to file a civil lawsuit in court, independent of any administrative complaint process. A two-year filing window applies, measured from the last occurrence of the alleged discrimination or the end of any related conciliation agreement breach, with time paused during pending administrative proceedings. However, certain conditions—such as an existing conciliation agreement or a hearing already underway before the civil rights hearing board—can limit or bar a court action under this provision.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 13-381, housing providers should be aware that aggrieved individuals retain the right to pursue civil litigation for alleged discriminatory housing practices for up to two years, regardless of whether an administrative complaint has been filed. Operators who enter into conciliation agreements through the director's office should understand that those agreements can restrict a complainant's ability to file a separate civil action, but also that the terms of such agreements remain independently enforceable in court. Compliant housing operators generally maintain thorough records of all fair-housing-related communications and agreements to be prepared for any civil or administrative proceedings that may arise under this article.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 13-381 gives individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices the ability to bring a civil lawsuit in court within a two-year window, even if no administrative complaint has been filed under section 13-351. The two-year clock can be paused while an administrative proceeding is pending, which may preserve options for those who first pursue the complaint process. Tenants exploring their options under this provision may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how the administrative and civil pathways interact in their circumstances.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-351
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References In

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