Discrimination filing deadlines by state
How long you have to file a workplace discrimination charge with the federal EEOC and with your state's civil rights agency.
General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Rules have exceptions; open your state for details and the law it comes from.
| State | EEOC deadline | State agency deadline | State agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 180 days | No state agency | None for private employers |
| Alaska | 300 days | 300 days | Alaska State Commission for Human Rights |
| Arizona | 300 days | 180 days | Arizona Civil Rights Division (Attorney General) |
| Arkansas | 180 days | No state agency | None |
| California | 300 days | 3 years | Civil Rights Department (CRD) |
| Colorado | 300 days | 300 days | Colorado Civil Rights Division |
| Connecticut | 300 days | 300 days | Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) |
| Delaware | 300 days | 300 days | Delaware Department of Labor, Office of Anti-Discrimination |
| District of Columbia | 300 days | 1 year | DC Office of Human Rights |
| Florida | 300 days | 365 days | Florida Commission on Human Relations |
| Georgia | 180 days | No state agency for private employers | None for private employers |
| Hawaii Checked on official source | 300 days | 180 days | Hawaii Civil Rights Commission |
| Idaho | 300 days | 1 year | Idaho Human Rights Commission |
| Illinois Checked on official source | 300 days | 2 years (since Jan. 1, 2025; was 300 days) | Illinois Department of Human Rights |
| Indiana | 300 days | 180 days | Indiana Civil Rights Commission |
| Iowa | 300 days | 300 days | Iowa Civil Rights Commission |
| Kansas | 300 days | 6 months | Kansas Human Rights Commission |
| Kentucky | 300 days | 180 days | Kentucky Commission on Human Rights |
| Louisiana | 300 days | 180 days | Louisiana Commission on Human Rights |
| Maine | 300 days | 300 days | Maine Human Rights Commission |
| Maryland | 300 days | 300 days | Maryland Commission on Civil Rights |
| Massachusetts | 300 days | 300 days | Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) |
| Michigan | 300 days | 180 days | Michigan Department of Civil Rights |
| Minnesota | 300 days | 1 year | Minnesota Department of Human Rights |
| Mississippi | 180 days | No state agency | None |
| Missouri | 300 days | 180 days | Missouri Commission on Human Rights |
| Montana | 300 days | 180 days | Montana Human Rights Bureau |
| Nebraska | 300 days | 300 days | Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission |
| Nevada | 300 days | 300 days | Nevada Equal Rights Commission |
| New Hampshire | 300 days | 180 days | New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights |
| New Jersey | 300 days | 180 days (or sue in court within 2 years) | Division on Civil Rights |
| New Mexico | 300 days | 300 days | Human Rights Bureau (Workforce Solutions) |
| New York | 300 days | 3 years for acts after Feb. 15, 2024 (1 year before) | New York State Division of Human Rights |
| North Carolina | 180 days | No state agency for private employers | None for most private employers |
| North Dakota | 300 days | 300 days | Labor and Human Rights Division |
| Ohio | 300 days | 2 years (since April 2021) | Ohio Civil Rights Commission |
| Oklahoma | 300 days | 180 days | Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (Attorney General) |
| Oregon | 300 days | 5 years | Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) |
| Pennsylvania | 300 days | 180 days | Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission |
| Rhode Island | 300 days | 1 year | Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights |
| South Carolina | 300 days | 180 days | South Carolina Human Affairs Commission |
| South Dakota | 300 days | 180 days | South Dakota Division of Human Rights |
| Tennessee Under review | 300 days | 180 days | Civil Rights Enforcement Division, Attorney General's Office (replaced the Human Rights Commission on July 1, 2025) |
| Texas | 300 days | 180 days | Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division |
| Utah | 300 days | 180 days | Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division |
| Vermont Under review | 300 days | See agency | Attorney General's Civil Rights Unit |
| Virginia | 300 days | 300 days | Office of Civil Rights (Attorney General) |
| Washington | 300 days | 6 months | Washington State Human Rights Commission |
| West Virginia | 300 days | 365 days | West Virginia Human Rights Commission |
| Wisconsin | 300 days | 300 days | Equal Rights Division (DWD) |
| Wyoming | 300 days | 180 days | Labor Standards Office (Department of Workforce Services) |
How we checked this
The EEOC rule is from eeoc.gov: 180 days, extended to 300 where a state or local agency enforces a similar law. State agency deadlines were compared across two sources and confirmed on agency websites where they differed (Hawaii, Illinois, Tennessee). Federal employees follow a different 45-day process. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.
Cross-checked sources agree Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site From a statute-cited table one detailed source Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.