City of IC reminds businesses of potential rights violations relating to dress code
Lang
6/22/19
The City of Iowa City is reminding business owners and residents that dress code enforcement could lead to a violation of the city’s civil rights ordinance.
In a message posted to its Facebook page Friday, the city asks residents to contact them if they feel their rights have been violated by being denied admittance to a restaurant or other business due to the way they were dressed. The post then links to an article noting the city’s Office of Equity and Human Rights has reissued its 2016 memorandum on Guidance on Dress Codes Admittance Policies and Places of Public Accommodation. The memo explains how dress codes and admittance policies may violate the Human Rights Ordinance if they are used to deny, limit, or create different terms of admittance based on a protected status, or if they have a disparate impact on people in a protected status without proof of business necessity.
In a reply to the comments left under the Facebook post, the city account says at least one Iowa City business was recently reminded of the ordinance after a patron was denied admittance, prompting the reminder.
A photo of a sign included with the post reads, “No Sports Wear, No Caps, No Vests, After 7pm No Shorts, Children Welcome Until 9pm”.
For more information on unlawful discrimination in places of public accommodation, or how to file a complaint, the city asks business owners and residents to call 319-356-5022 or send an email to humanrights@iowa-city.org.