Wayne County, MI Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

To report a violation of Wayne County's Human Rights Ordinance, a complainant files a written complaint with the seven-member Human Rights Commission created under Chapter 55, Article III of the county code. The complaint must be signed by the person making it and sworn to before a notary public, and it can be submitted in person, by email, or by mail. It has to specify the acts of discrimination alleged and include the complainant's contact information, relevant dates, the location, witnesses, and other facts bearing on the claim.

Complaints must be filed within 180 calendar days of the discriminatory act, or within 180 days of when the complainant should have known of it; the Commission cannot act on anything filed later. If the same matter was already filed with another county, city, township, state or federal civil rights agency, the Commission will not accept it unless that earlier complaint was dismissed on non-merits grounds or the case was referred back. Once received, the Commission acknowledges the complaint, forwards it to the person accused, and lets that person respond in writing.

The Commission then has 90 calendar days to dispose of the complaint, extendable by up to 30 more days in extraordinary circumstances with written notice to both sides. Disposition can mean dismissal, a finding of no violation, further investigation, referral to state or federal authorities, a finding that a violation occurred, or mediation between the parties. All complaints and Commission responses are kept on file for at least three years, and the Commission must give complainants notice of their separate right to file with the EEOC within 180 days to preserve a federal Title VII, ADA, or ADEA claim.