N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 8, ch. 1 § 8-126
Civil penalties imposed by commission for unlawful discriminatory practices or acts of discriminatory harassment or violence (New York City Human Rights Law)
Operative Text
a. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 13 of section 8-107 , in addition to any of the remedies and penalties set forth in subdivision a of section 8-120 , where the commission finds that a person has engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice, the commission may, to vindicate the public interest, impose a civil penalty of not more than $125,000. Where the commission finds that an unlawful discriminatory practice was the result of the respondent's willful, wanton or malicious act or where the commission finds that an act of discriminatory harassment or violence as set forth in chapter 6 of this title has occurred, the commission may, to vindicate the public interest, impose a civil penalty of not more than $250,000. b. A respondent that is found liable for an unlawful discriminatory practice or an act of discriminatory harassment or violence, as set forth in chapter 6 of this title, may, in relation to the determination of the appropriate amount of civil penalties to be imposed pursuant to subdivision a of this section, plead and prove any relevant mitigating factor. c. In addition to any other penalties or sanctions which may be imposed pursuant to any other law, any person who knowingly makes a material false statement in any proceeding conducted, or document or record filed with the commission, or record required to be preserved or made and kept and subject to inspection by the commission pursuant to this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. d. An action or proceeding may be commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction on behalf of the commission for the recovery of the civil penalties provided for in this section. (Am. L.L. 2018/063, 1/19/2018, eff. 10/16/2018) Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1991/039 and L.L. 2005/085 .
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 & 8-126, the New York City Commission on Human Rights is authorized to impose civil monetary penalties on parties found to have engaged in unlawful discriminatory practices, including housing discrimination. Standard violations may result in penalties up to $125,000, while willful, wanton, or malicious conduct—or acts of discriminatory harassment or violence—can trigger penalties up to $250,000. Additionally, knowingly making a false material statement in a commission proceeding or filing can result in a separate civil penalty of up to $10,000.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 & 8-126 should be aware that the NYC Commission on Human Rights can impose substantial civil penalties—up to $125,000 for standard violations and up to $250,000 for willful or malicious conduct—on top of other remedies. Compliant operators typically maintain clear, consistently applied non-discriminatory policies, train staff on fair housing obligations, and ensure that all documents and statements submitted to the Commission are accurate and complete. Operators found liable may present mitigating factors during the penalty-determination phase, underscoring the importance of thorough recordkeeping.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 & 8-126, tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or violence have the right to file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, which has authority to impose significant civil penalties against violating parties. If the Commission finds a violation, it may award remedies in addition to those penalties, and the process allows for the public interest to be vindicated even beyond individual relief. Tenants can also consult tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services to understand the range of options available under this provision.
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.
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