New Jersey Public Accomodations

New Jersey Public Accommodations Discrimination Poster

Help satisfy New Jersey public accommodations posting requirements with the New Jersey Public Accommodations Discrimination Poster. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) requires covered businesses and places open to the public to display an official notice explaining protections against unlawful discrimination and harassment.

This notice informs customers, visitors, and members of the public about their rights to equal access to goods, services, facilities, and public accommodations.

Poster Specifications

• Quantity: 1 poster
• Size: 8.5"W x 11"H
• Orientation: Portrait
• Language: English
• Format: Full-color public accommodations discrimination notice
• Finish: Completely laminated with high-quality laminate
• Requirement: N.J.A.C. 13:8-1.4

Who Must Display the New Jersey Public Accommodations Poster?

New Jersey requires covered places of public accommodation to display the official discrimination notice.

Places of public accommodation generally include businesses, facilities, and organizations offering goods, services, or accommodations to the public.

Examples include:

• Retail stores and shopping centers
• Restaurants and cafes
• Hotels and motels
• Entertainment venues and theaters
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Summer camps and recreational facilities
• Fitness centers and gyms
• Government offices and agencies
• Medical offices and healthcare facilities
• Other businesses and establishments open to the public

Certain healthcare facilities must display specialized notices issued by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights instead of the general public accommodations poster.

What Is the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination?

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) prohibits unlawful discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation.

In public accommodations, the law protects individuals from being denied equal access to goods, services, facilities, and privileges because of characteristics protected by New Jersey law.

What Characteristics Are Protected?

New Jersey's public accommodations discrimination protections include characteristics such as:

• Race and color
• Religion or creed
• National origin, nationality, and ancestry
• Sex
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity or expression
• Disability
• Marital status
• Domestic partnership or civil union status
• Liability for military service

Protections apply to discrimination based on actual or perceived protected characteristics, subject to applicable statutory provisions.

What Is Public Accommodations Discrimination?

Public accommodations discrimination can occur when a covered business unlawfully treats a customer, visitor, or other individual differently because of a protected characteristic.

Examples of potentially unlawful conduct include:

• Refusing service because of a customer's race
• Denying admission because of religion or national origin
• Providing unequal services because of sexual orientation
• Harassing customers because of gender identity
• Refusing reasonable disability accommodations
• Imposing discriminatory conditions on access to facilities
• Providing inferior service because of a protected characteristic
• Retaliating against individuals who report discrimination

Disability Access and Reasonable Accommodations

New Jersey law protects individuals with disabilities from unlawful discrimination in places of public accommodation.

Covered establishments may be required to provide reasonable accommodations that allow individuals with disabilities equal access to goods, services, and facilities, unless an applicable legal exception applies.

Reasonable accommodations can include allowing qualifying service animals, providing accessible services, or modifying certain policies when required by law.

Are Service Animals Protected?

Yes. Individuals with qualifying disabilities who use service animals are protected under applicable New Jersey and federal disability access laws.

Businesses generally must permit qualifying service animals in areas where customers and members of the public are allowed, subject to applicable legal exceptions.

Protection Against Harassment and Retaliation

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits unlawful bias-based harassment in places of public accommodation.

The law also prohibits retaliation against individuals for reporting discrimination, filing a complaint, participating in an investigation, or otherwise exercising protected civil rights.

Where Must the New Jersey Public Accommodations Poster Be Displayed?

Under N.J.A.C. 13:8-1.4, covered places of public accommodation must display the official notice in locations easily visible to individuals seeking or using the accommodations.

Appropriate public-facing locations can include:

• Business entrances
• Reception areas
• Customer service counters
• Restaurant customer areas
• Retail checkout areas
• Public waiting rooms
• Hotel registration areas
• Other prominent locations accessible to customers and visitors

The notice should not be displayed exclusively in an employee-only area when the public must be able to see it.

What Size Must the Poster Be?

New Jersey requires official Division on Civil Rights posters printed from the state's website to be at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches, with fully legible text that is large enough to be easily read.

This New Jersey Public Accommodations Poster measures 8.5"W x 11"H and is laminated for durability.

Do Healthcare Facilities Need a Different Poster?

Yes, certain healthcare facilities are subject to specialized posting requirements.

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights provides category-specific notices for facilities such as:

• Pre- and postnatal healthcare facilities
• Mental health facilities
• Emergency and trauma facilities
• Long-term and short-term care facilities
• Alternative treatment centers
• Licensed professional healthcare facilities

Healthcare providers should determine which official category-specific notices apply to their operations rather than assuming the general Public Accommodations Poster satisfies every healthcare posting requirement.

Is the New Jersey Public Accommodations Poster Required?

Yes. New Jersey requires places of public accommodation to display the applicable official discrimination notice under N.J.A.C. 13:8-1.4.

This is a public-facing civil rights posting requirement and is separate from the employment discrimination notice required for covered employers.

Does This Replace the New Jersey Employment Discrimination Poster?

No. New Jersey maintains separate posting requirements for discrimination in employment and discrimination in places of public accommodation.

The employment poster is intended for employees and job applicants, while the public accommodations poster is intended for customers, visitors, and other individuals seeking goods or services.

Businesses subject to both requirements must ensure the applicable notices are displayed where their intended audiences can readily see them.

How Can Someone Report Public Accommodations Discrimination?

Individuals who believe they have experienced unlawful discrimination or harassment may contact the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR).

The Division investigates qualifying complaints and provides information about rights and remedies under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

Complaints generally must be filed with DCR within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory incident.

DCR Hotline: 1-833-NJDCR4U (1-833-653-2748)

For additional information, visit New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.

Does the Poster Need Annual Replacement?

Not automatically. Covered businesses should maintain the current official New Jersey Public Accommodations notice and replace outdated versions when the Division on Civil Rights issues a mandatory revision.

The change of calendar year alone does not necessarily require purchasing a new poster.

New Jersey Workplace Compliance Resources

Labor Law Compliance Center provides New Jersey businesses with state and federal labor law posters, public accommodations notices, fair housing posters, public-sector safety notices, and specialty compliance products. Visit our New Jersey Labor Law Posters page or browse our New Jersey State Specialty Posters for additional New Jersey compliance products.