---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2000a–3"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2000a–3"
heading: "Civil actions for injunctive relief"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2000a-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 21 — Civil Rights"
  - "Subchapter II — Public Accommodations"
---

# §2000a–3. Civil actions for injunctive relief

- (a) **Persons aggrieved; intervention by Attorney General; legal representation; commencement of action without payment of fees, costs, or security—** Whenever any [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) has engaged or there are reasonable grounds to believe that any [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) is about to engage in any act or practice prohibited by [section 2000a–2 of this title](/usc/42/2000a–2.md), a civil action for preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, may be instituted by the [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) aggrieved and, upon timely application, the court may, in its discretion, permit the [Attorney General](/usc/42/14902.md?p=6) to intervene in such civil action if he certifies that the case is of general public importance. Upon application by the [complainant](/usc/42/3602.md?p=j) and in such circumstances as the court may deem just, the court may appoint an attorney for such [complainant](/usc/42/3602.md?p=j) and may authorize the commencement of the civil action without the payment of fees, costs, or security.
- (b) **Attorney’s fees; liability of United States for costs—** In any action commenced pursuant to this subchapter, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs, and the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) shall be liable for costs the same as a private [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i).
- (c) **State or local enforcement proceedings; notification of State or local authority; stay of Federal proceedings—** In the case of an alleged act or practice prohibited by this subchapter which occurs in a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), which has a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local law prohibiting such act or practice and establishing or authorizing a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local authority to grant or seek relief from such practice or to institute criminal proceedings with respect thereto upon receiving notice thereof, no civil action may be brought under [subsection (a)](#a) before the expiration of thirty days after written notice of such alleged act or practice has been given to the appropriate [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local authority by registered mail or in [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i), provided that the court may stay proceedings in such civil action pending the termination of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local enforcement proceedings.
- (d) **References to Community Relations Service to obtain voluntary compliance; duration of reference; extension of period—** In the case of an alleged act or practice prohibited by this subchapter which occurs in a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), which has no [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local law prohibiting such act or practice, a civil action may be brought under [subsection (a)](#a): Provided, That the court may refer the matter to the Community Relations Service established by subchapter VIII of this chapter for as long as the court believes there is a reasonable possibility of obtaining voluntary compliance, but for not more than sixty days: Provided further, That upon expiration of such sixty-day period, the court may extend such period for an additional period, not to exceed a cumulative total of one hundred and twenty days, if it believes there then exists a reasonable possibility of securing voluntary compliance.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 88–352, title II, § 204, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 244.)