Pittsboro, NC – At its meeting on August 16, 2021, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a non-discrimination ordinance. The ordinance amends Title XI of the Chatham County Code of Ordinances to prohibit discrimination in places of public accommodations and in employment.
“We want to do everything we can to provide protections against discrimination that reflect our community’s shared values of equality, inclusion, and fair access; and to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of people regardless of their statuses or characteristics,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Dasher. “As Chatham County continues to grow, we want to ensure residents, employees, and visitors that we are a welcoming and inclusive community.”
On December 1, 2020, the provision of North Carolina House Bill 142 that preempted municipalities from passing non-discrimination ordinances expired. Since then, local governments across North Carolina have passed anti-discrimination ordinances aimed to protect certain groups of people from discrimination in three main areas: employment, housing, and public accommodations. These include Orange County and Buncombe County; the towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Apex; and the cities of Durham, Greensboro, Asheville, and Charlotte.
Chatham County’s non-discrimination ordinance will take effect on October 1, 2021.