Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Discrimination and Civil Rights Laws in Louisville, KY
Written by Cooper and Friedman on June 23, 2026
Civil rights laws in Louisville, KY can be difficult to parse out with all of the legal jargon in official documents. That’s why it is important for citizens who think they may have a civil rights violation should ask questions. Most law firms will have a free consultation for potential cases, but you can also find many firms with an online chat option or contact forms. These are not exclusive to potential cases; use them to ask questions, as well!
In Kentucky, we have the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights available for state-wide inquiries on several civil rights issues. Their website is a great resource to file a complain, view reports and records, ask questions, and access civil rights documents. These are 10 frequently asked questions about civil rights law from their website and from other sources:
1. What is the Civil Rights Act?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in public places. It targeted schools, pools, parks, libraries, and other public facilities during the racial integration period. Furthermore, Title VIII of the act created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and also made employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age illegal.
Kentucky has its own Kentucky Civil Rights Act. It outlines much of the same protections from discrimination as in the federal Civil Rights Act and made discrimination illegal on a state level in addition to a federal level.
2. What protected classes are covered by the Kentucky Civil Rights Act?
- Employment:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Age (over 40)
- Sex
- Disability
- Retaliation
- Housing:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Familial status
- National origin
- Sex
- Disability
- Retaliation
- Public Accommodation:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability
- Financial Transactions – see KRS 344.400:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Sex
- Disability
3. How do I know if an employer is covered by the Kentucky Civil Rights Act?
Kentucky employers are covered if they meet these requirements:
- They have eight (8) or more employees within the state
- Those employees are employed for twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year
There is an exception if an employer is charged with disability discrimination, in which case only employers with fifteen (15) or more employees are covered by the Act.
4. How long after an incident do I have to file a discrimination complaint?
A complaint must be filed within 180 days for employment, public accommodations, and financial transactions. Housing complaints must be filed within 365 days.
5. What types of housing are covered by the Kentucky Civil Rights Act?
All real property (home, apartments, lots, etc.) rented or sold, whether by or through a real estate broker, sales agent or operator, or directly by the owner.
6. Is it lawful for a financial institution to charge me more interest for my mortgage because of the neighborhood in which I live?
No, it is unlawful to discriminate in the granting, rates, terms, conditions or services of financial assistance in real estate transactions due to a location in a majority-minority neighborhood.
7. Can a landlord refuse to rent to someone because of a mental illness?
Mental illness is a more nuanced topic when it comes to discrimination. According to KY law, any person with a mental disability who applies for Housing should be screened in the same manner and held to the same eligibility standards as other applicants. Acceptance or rejection of that person as a renter should be based on whether or not they meet the eligibility standards, not on the fact that the person has a disability. An applicant’s acceptance needs to be based on standards relating to rental history and behavior, not on the mental disability.
However, the law also states that housing need not be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals, or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others. Although some behaviors may be the result of a mental illness, the law does exclude certain behaviors from the protection of the law. A violent applicant is one example of an instance in which the disability has affected the individual’s ability to meet the eligibility standards.
8. Is it legal for an employer to require drug testing?
Yes, as long as the employer does not decide who will be tested based on their age, race, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
9. Can disability modifications be denied by landlords?
Disability modification such as the installation of wheelchair ramps can be denied if the modification would severely restrict or interfere with other residents’ rights. The law states that the modification must be “reasonable.” One of the tests of reasonableness is the effect or impact the modification will have on the rights of other residents, so if it interferes, it is possible that it may be labeled “unreasonable.” The law also states a property owner may not be required to violate another law, in order to comply with the fair housing law, e.g. zoning parking requirement, or fire codes.
10. What kind of compensation will you get from a civil rights case?
The compensation you get from a civil rights violation case depends on what damages were incurred. Commonly, this will be out-of-pocket expenses that resulted from a job/apartment search, backpay or lost wages that result from discriminatory practices, and emotional harm resulting from mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of enjoyment of life. In additional, the entity that was in violation of those civil rights will be required to remedy the discriminatory practices.
If you or someone you love has been discriminated against in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced civil rights attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of civil rights violation victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.