N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 8, ch. 1 § 8-129
Criminal penalties (New York City Human Rights Law)
Operative Text
In addition to any other penalties or sanctions which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter or any other law, any person who shall willfully resist, prevent, impede or interfere with the commission or any of its members or representatives in the performance of any duty under this chapter, or shall willfully violate an order of the commission issued pursuant to section 8-115 or section 8-120 , shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both; but the procedure for the review of the order shall not be deemed to be such willful conduct. (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 .
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 et seq. § 8-129, willfully obstructing the New York City Commission on Human Rights in carrying out its duties—or deliberately violating a commission order issued under the relevant enforcement sections—constitutes a misdemeanor under New York City law. A person found guilty may face up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Importantly, simply seeking judicial review of a commission order does not itself count as the kind of willful conduct that triggers these criminal penalties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to commission oversight should be aware that N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 et seq. § 8-129 imposes criminal liability on anyone who willfully interferes with commission representatives or defies a commission enforcement order. Compliant operators generally cooperate with commission investigations, respond to official inquiries in good faith, and abide by any orders issued under the chapter. Pursuing a lawful appeal or review of a commission order is explicitly distinguished from the willful noncompliance that this provision targets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 8-101 et seq. § 8-129 provides that parties who obstruct the Commission on Human Rights or defy its orders can face criminal misdemeanor charges, which may strengthen the commission's ability to enforce rulings that protect tenants' rights. If a landlord or other party is interfering with a commission investigation or ignoring a commission order related to your housing situation, that conduct may itself be a violation under this provision. Tenants can learn more about filing complaints or reporting obstruction by contacting the New York City Commission on Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization.
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 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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