Donate
New Democracy Maps
/Equality Maps /Local Nondiscrimination Ordinances

Local Nondiscrimination Ordinances

In the absence of federal or state nondiscrimination protections, many municipalities have taken action to protect their LGBTQ friends, family, and neighbors from discrimination. These local nondiscrimination ordinances (NDOs) do so by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in private employment, housing, and/or public accommodations.

As of April 1, 2025, there are 21 states, Washington D.C. (see state nondiscrimination laws here), and at least 395 municipalities that fully and explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations. For a full listing of these municipalities, click the "City and County Listing" tab above. Note this count of municipalities does not include municipalities in states with statewide protections, or municipalities with only partial protection.

This map shows the percent of each state’s population with comprehensive protections: protected from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity, in all three of private employment, housing, and public accommodations. While the vast majority of local ordinances are fully comprehensive, some ordinances protect only in certain areas (such as housing) or only based on sexual orientation. The portion of the public protected only by these partial ordinances are not included here. For more information about the scope of a state's coverage, including partial coverage, please see the city and county tab, or the detailed information in each state’s profile by clicking on that state in the map below.
United States Map
Washington New York U.S. Virgin Islands Puerto Rico Guam Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands American Samoa New Hampshire Vermont Virginia Pennsylvania New York Maine West Virginia Ohio Kentucky Indiana Michigan Illinois Wisconsin North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Georgia Florida Mississippi Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Iowa Minnesota Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska South Dakota North Dakota Texas 33 Colorado Wyoming Montana Idaho Arizona Utah Nevada Oregon California Hawaii Alaska Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey Delaware Maryland Washington D.C. New Hampshire Vermont
  • Percent of the state population protected from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Percent of the state population protected by local ordinances from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity
  • State has law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, but not gender identity
  • State has law preventing passage or enforcement of local nondiscrimination ordinances
*In Alaska, Kansas, Florida, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, the state's nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's agency or attorney general has stated it explicitly interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. For more detail, see the state nondiscrimination law maps.
*Utah's nondiscrimination law explicitly enumerates both sexual orientation and gender identity, but only in employment and housing, not public accommodations. Since this map displays "ideal" coverage (all three of employment, housing, and public accommodations), Utah is shown here as being without full or ideal protections.
*In Iowa and Wisconsin, the state's nondiscrimination law explicitly enumerates sexual orientation, but not gender identity. As a result, 100% of those states' residents are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, but residents are only protected from discrimination based on gender identity if their local city or county has enacted such protections.

Note that enforcement mechanisms within these ordinances vary by jurisdiction. Note also that some jurisdictions may prohibit discrimination in public employment (i.e., government employees only), but only ordinances that prohibit discrimination in private employment are included here.

Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Local Nondiscrimination Ordinances." https://www.mapresearch.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_ordinances. Accessed 04/05/2025.

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

Click here for a list of city and county ordinances by state.

70 degrees
Data current as of 04/05/2025
This map is powered by

Stay Informed

Be the first to know about new reports and MAP news by signing up for our newsletter

Democracy Maps

Equality Maps

Policy

Communications

Open to All

About

A Brief Overview of MAP

Founded in 2006, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all.

MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. MAP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and donations to MAP are 100% tax-deductible. You can read more about MAP and the work we do on our About page.

Get in Touch

Get Social

Copyright © 2025 Movement Advancement Project