N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 8, ch. 1 § 8-127
Disposition of civil penalties (New York City Human Rights Law)
Operative Text
a. Any civil penalties recovered pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the general fund of the city. b. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, where an action or proceeding is commenced against a city agency for the enforcement of a final order issued by the commission pursuant to section 8-120 of the code after a finding that such agency has engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice and in such action or proceeding civil penalties are sought for violation of such order, any civil penalties which are imposed by the court against such agency shall be budgeted in a separate account. Such account shall be used solely to support city agencies' anti-bias education programs, activities sponsored by city agencies that are designed to eradicate discrimination or to fund remedial programs that are necessary to address the city's liability for discriminatory acts or practices. Funds in such account shall not be used to support or benefit the commission. The disposition of such funds shall be under the direction of the mayor. Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1991/039 .
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-127, civil penalties collected under the city's human rights law generally flow into the city's general fund. However, when a city agency itself is found to have engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice and a court imposes civil penalties against that agency for violating a Commission order, those penalty funds must be held in a separate, dedicated account. That segregated account may only be used for anti-bias education, programs aimed at eradicating discrimination, or remedial efforts addressing the city's own discriminatory conduct — and the mayor directs how those funds are spent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Private landlords and property managers are not the direct subject of the fund-disposition rules in § 8-127, but the provision is part of the broader enforcement framework under which civil penalties for discriminatory housing practices are collected. Operators who understand this framework recognize that penalties assessed against them flow to the city's general fund, reinforcing that the Human Rights Law carries real financial consequences. Staying current on fair-housing obligations and maintaining non-discriminatory policies and procedures is the general practice of compliant housing operators under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-127 governs what happens to civil penalty money after a discrimination case is resolved — it does not limit the remedies a tenant can pursue. Tenants who believe they have experienced unlawful housing discrimination may file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, which is empowered to issue orders and seek civil penalties under this chapter. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid providers can help individuals understand the complaint process and the range of remedies available under the city's human rights law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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