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Georgia law

Civil Rights Laws in Georgia.

Georgia civil-rights practice is driven largely by federal law. Georgia does not have a broad state employment anti-discrimination statute comparable to Title VII — the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act covers only state employees, and the Georgia Equal Employment for People with Disabilities Code is limited in scope. Private-employment claims typically proceed under federal Title VII, ADA, ADEA, § 1983, and the federal Fair Housing Act.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Statute of Limitations

Administrative and court deadlines vary by claimFederal civil-rights statutes

Georgia civil-rights claims generally follow federal timelines. Federal employment-discrimination charges typically must be filed with the EEOC within 180 days; § 1983 claims borrow Georgia’s 2-year personal-injury limitations period.

State law

Key Georgia Statutes

Federal Civil Rights Statutes42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 2000e et seq.

Many Georgia civil-rights cases run through federal civil-rights statutes — including § 1983 for state-actor misconduct and Title VII for employment discrimination.

Georgia Fair Employment Practices ActO.C.G.A. §§ 45-19-20 et seq.

Georgia’s state-employee anti-discrimination statute covers state government employees, with enforcement through the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity.

Georgia Fair Housing ActO.C.G.A. §§ 8-3-200 et seq.

Georgia’s Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on protected classes and parallels the federal Fair Housing Act.

State law

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Georgia.

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