N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-27
Construction of act; other laws not affected; exception; other remedies
Operative Text
26. The provisions of this act shall be construed fairly and justly with due regard to the interests of all parties. Nothing contained in this act shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of the Civil Rights Law or of any other law of this State relating to discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, nationality or sex or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States; except that, as to practices and acts declared unlawful by section 11 of this act, the procedure herein provided shall, while pending, be exclusive; and the final determination therein shall exclude any other action, civil or criminal, based on the same grievance of the individual concerned. Nothing herein contained shall bar, exclude or otherwise affect any right or action, civil or criminal, which may exist independently of any right to redress against or specific relief from any unlawful employment practice or unlawful discrimination. With respect only to affectional or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, nothing contained herein shall be construed to require the imposition of affirmative action, plans or quotas as specific relief from an unlawful employment practice or unlawful discrimination. L.1945,c.169,s.26; amended 1949, c.11, s.19; 1951, c.64, s.7; 1970, c.80, s.15; 1991, c.519, s.9; 2003, c.180, s.17; 2006, c.100, s.11.
N.J.S.A. 10:5-27 establishes that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) is to be interpreted fairly and with regard to all parties' interests. It clarifies that the LAD does not repeal other state civil rights laws covering discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, and related characteristics. However, once a complaint under section 11 of the LAD is pending, that administrative procedure becomes the exclusive remedy for that specific grievance, and a final determination there bars any separate civil or criminal action based on the same complaint.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in New Jersey should be aware that N.J.S.A. 10:5-27 preserves multiple layers of anti-discrimination law, meaning compliance obligations extend beyond the LAD alone to include other applicable state civil rights statutes. Operators who face a pending LAD administrative proceeding under section 11 should understand that the administrative process is exclusive while active, and a final determination forecloses parallel civil or criminal claims on the same grievance. Compliant operators generally maintain consistent, documented non-discrimination policies that account for all protected characteristics named across the LAD and related state laws.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.J.S.A. 10:5-27, tenants retain rights under both the LAD and other New Jersey civil rights laws, so a housing discrimination concern may implicate more than one legal framework. It is worth noting that once a complaint is filed and pending under section 11 of the LAD, that procedure becomes the exclusive channel for that specific grievance, and a final decision there will preclude separate lawsuits or criminal actions based on the same facts. Tenants exploring their options may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how the interaction between the LAD and other state civil rights laws applies to their circumstances.
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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