# Subdivision 1. General Provisions

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Subdivision 1. General Provisions

### Sec. 2-185. Office of Human Rights; purpose

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-185 (2026)

(a) It shall be a function of the County government to foster and encourage the growth and development of the County in such a manner that all persons shall have an equal opportunity to pursue their lives free of discrimination imposed because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, occupation, marital status, political opinion, personal appearance, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or gender identity. Discriminatory practices based upon the foregoing criteria are declared to be contrary to the public policy of the County.

(b) The County government shall direct its efforts and resources toward eliminating discriminatory practices within the County in the areas of housing and residential real estate, employment, law enforcement, education, public accommodations, and commercial real estate where such practices may be found to exist.

(c) It is intended that the prohibitions in this Division are substantially similar, but not necessarily identical, to prohibitions in Federal and State law. The intent is to assure that a complaint filed under this Division may proceed more promptly than possible under either Federal or State law. It is not County policy, however, to create a duplicative or cumulative process to those existing under similar or identical Federal or State laws. Once a complaint is fully adjudicated under a similar or identical Federal or State law, the complaint should not be reprocessed under this Division if the effect is duplicative or cumulative.

### Sec. 2-186. Definitions

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-186 (2026)

(a) As used in this Division:

  (1) Act shall mean the law established hereunder, and any subsequent legislative act or executive order which lawfully assigns a responsibility to the Office of Human Rights (hereinafter "Agency") to eliminate discrimination or the denial of civil rights.

  (2) Aggrieved Person shall mean any person who:

    (A) Claims to have been injured by discrimination as defined in Section 2-186(a)(6) of this Subtitle; or

    (B) Believes that such person will be injured by discrimination that is about to occur.

  (3) Complainant shall mean the person alleging a violation under this Division.

  (4) Covered multifamily dwelling shall mean buildings consisting of 4 or more units if such buildings have one or more elevators and ground floor units in other buildings consisting of 4 or more units.

  (5) Disability shall mean a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities, a record of having such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.

  (6) Discrimination shall mean acting, or failing to act, or unduly delaying any action regarding any person because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age (except as required by State or Federal law), occupation, familial status, marital status, political opinion, personal appearance, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity, in such a way that such person is adversely affected in the areas of housing and residential real estate, employment, law enforcement, education, public accommodations, or commercial real estate.

  (7) Dwelling shall mean any building or structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, designed, intended, or arranged for use or occupancy as a home, residence, or sleeping place of one (1) or more individuals.

  (8) Employer shall mean any person engaged in legal industry affecting commerce, who has hired or contracted for the services of one (1) or more employees, or an agent of such person. Employer includes the Prince George's County Government.

  (9) Employment agency shall mean any person regularly undertaking with or without compensation to procure employees for an employer or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer and includes an agent of such a person, but shall not include any agency of the Federal or State governments.

  (10) Executive Director shall mean a person appointed by the County Executive to supervise the Agency and advise and assist the Human Rights Commission in its functions, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive.

  (11) Familial status shall mean one or more individuals, who have not attained the age of eighteen (18) years, being domiciled with a parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or the designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person. The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall be extended to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.

  (12) Gender Identity shall mean an individual's actual or perceived gender, including a person's gender-related appearance, expression, image, identity, or behavior and whether or not those gender-related characteristics differ from the characteristics customarily associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.

  (13) Housing shall mean any dwelling for the use of one (1) or more individuals, groups or families, any mobile home site, and any land offered for sale, sublease, or lease for the construction of such dwelling, building, structure, or mobile home site.

  (14) Informal hearing shall mean any inquiry, forum, investigation, or meeting at which compulsory processes are not invoked and a record is not prepared for the purpose of providing the basis of the Commission's compulsory processes. Informal hearings are not required to be open to public or press.

  (15) Labor organization shall mean a person or organization which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment, and any conference, general committee, joint or system board, or joint council so engaged which is subordinate to a national or international labor organization.

  (16) Lending Institution shall mean any bank, insurance company, savings and loan association, or any other person or organization regularly engaged in the business of lending money or guaranteeing loans within the County.

  (17) Mediation shall mean the attempted resolution of issues raised by a complaint through informal negotiations involving the complainant and respondent.

  (18) Occupation shall keep its common meaning. In addition, under this Division it shall mean a principal lawful activity. Persons to be protected include, but are not limited to students, recipients of government assistance, retired persons, or persons with disabilities as defined in this Division, and any persons irrespective of income, who are denied the equal protection of the laws.

  (19) Office of Human Rights staff shall be referred to as "the Agency"; the Commissioners of the Office of Human Rights, as defined by Section 2-187(a) shall be referred to as "the Commission" or "Human Rights Commission."

  (20) Person shall include one (1) or more individuals, labor unions, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, agents, or receivers.

  (21) Personal appearance shall mean the outward appearance of any person irrespective of sex, with regard to bodily condition or characteristics, manner or style of dress, and manner or style of personal grooming, including, but not limited to hair style or beards. It shall not relate, however, to the requirement of cleanliness, uniforms, or prescribed attire when uniformly applied for admittance to a public accommodation or a class of employees for a customary or reasonable business.

  (22) Place of public accommodation shall include, but not be limited to, any wholesale or retail store, inn, hotel, motel, or other establishment which provides lodging to transient persons; or any restaurant, cafeteria, lunch room, lunch counter, soda fountain, or other facility at which food or alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises; or any gasoline station, motion picture house, theatre, concert hall, sports arena, stadium, or place of exhibition or entertainment.

  (23) Political opinion shall mean the opinions of persons relating to government, or the conduct of government; or related to political parties authorized to participate in elections in the State.

  (24) Residential real estate-related transaction shall mean any of the following:

    (A) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance—

      (i) for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or

      (ii) secured by residential real estate; or

    (B) The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.

  (25) Respondent shall mean:

    (A) the person or other entity accused in a complaint of a violation under this Division; or

    (B) person or any other entity identified during an investigation of a complaint and joined as an additional or substitute respondent.

  (26) Sexual Orientation shall include, but is not limited to, the preference or practice of an individual as to homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality, or being regarded or identified as having such a preference.

  (27) Solicit shall mean to request, invite, or induce, for monetary gain, by the following means:

    (A) Going in or upon the property of the person to be solicited except when invited by such person;

    (B) Contacting the person to be solicited by any means, to include but not limited to, telephone, text, social media, or messenger service, except when requested by such person; or

    (C) Distributing handbills, circulars, or other advertising matter on private property or private vehicles, except as requested by owners of such property or vehicles.

Solicitation does not include advertising in bona fide newspapers, magazines, radio, television, internet sites, or telephone directories.

(28) Source of income means any lawful verifiable source of money paid directly or indirectly to a renter or a buyer of a housing unit, including:

  (A) Income received through any lawful profession or occupation, including but not limited to, bank statement, official government issued letters, pay stub or letter from an employer;

  (B) Federal, state, or local government assistance including housing vouchers, medical assistance subsidies, rental assistance, and rent supplements as issued under the United States Housing Act of 1937;

  (C) Any inheritance, pension, annuity, alimony, child support, trust, or investment accounts;

  (D) Any gift verified by a letter or other means but, unless it is recurring throughout a tenancy, the gift may support one-time expenses only, such as a security deposit or pet fee; and

  (E) Any sale or pledge of property if the sale or pledge will result in proceeds inuring to the recipient's benefit within sixty days of the application to rent a housing unit, purchase a housing unit, or purchase an interest in a housing unit.

(29) Wrongful practice shall mean an act for which the Commission shall have the power to issue Cease and Desist Orders and enforce through the Court. It shall not constitute a misdemeanor or a prohibited act as defined by Section 1-123 of this Code.