Update Applicable to:	Effective Date
All Employers in Cuyahoga County	November 13, 2025

What happened?

On October 14, 2025, the Cuyahoga County Council passed Ordinance No. O2025-0004, enacting the Cuyahoga County CROWN Act and becoming the first county in Ohio to prohibit discrimination based on natural hairstyles in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Overview:

The ordinance protects hairstyles commonly associated with cultural identity, including afros, locs, braids, twists, Bantu knots, and tightly coiled or curled hair, clarifying that discrimination based on these hair textures or styles constitutes racial or national origin discrimination.

• The Cuyahoga County Human Rights Commission will oversee enforcement, with authority to investigate complaints, mediate disputes, conduct hearings, and issue civil penalties.

Employers are encouraged to review grooming and dress code policies to ensure they are inclusive, provide training to prevent bias, and establish clear reporting procedures for discrimination complaints.

Additional Information:
 

Summary of Ordinance No. O2025-0004 (Cuyahoga County CROWN Act)

Section 1 – Amendment to Section 1501.01: Definitions

• Adds hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled, or curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros) to the definition of “race.”
• Clarifies that discrimination based on such hair characteristics constitutes racial or national origin discrimination.

Section 2 – Amendment to Section 1501.02: Prohibited Discriminatory Practices

A. Fair Housing

• Prohibits discrimination in housing transactions (sale, rental, financing, advertising, etc.) based on race, including hair texture/style.

• Bans restrictive covenants and discriminatory practices in housing services.

• Exemptions include:
  • Religious and fraternal organizations under specific conditions.
  • Reasonable occupancy standards.
  • Safety-based tenancy exclusions.
  • Age-specific housing (e.g., senior housing).
  • Legitimate business practices (e.g., use of references), provided they are not used as a pretext for discrimination.

B. Employment

• Prohibits employment discrimination in hiring, promotion, training, termination, and workplace policies based on race, including hair texture/style.

• Employers may enforce health or safety standards only if applied equally and not used as a pretext for hair-based discrimination.

• Exemptions: Religious organizations hiring for religious activities.

C. Public Accommodations

• Prohibits denial or differential treatment in public accommodations based on race, including hair texture/style.
• Applies to places such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, stores, and other public venues.

D. False Complaints

• Filing knowingly false or fraudulent complaints with intent to harm may result in civil penalties.
• An unsubstantiated complaint alone does not constitute a false complaint.

E. Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

• Encourages affirmative action plans and diversity initiatives aimed at increasing participation of historically marginalized groups.
• Such efforts are not considered discriminatory under this ordinance.

Section 3 – Amendment to Employee Handbook (Section 3.02: Equal Employment Opportunity)

• Updates the County’s EEO policy to include hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin as a protected category.
• Applies to all aspects of employment: hiring, promotion, training, termination, compensation, and working conditions.

Source References

• County Council of Cuyahoga County, Ohio – Ordinance No. O2025-0004

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