Location, location, location.
It’s a well-known cliche for real estate, but it can also have serious implications when it comes to freelancing. That’s because your location (and also the location of the company you’re contracting for) can determine the laws and regulations related to your freelancing business. We’ll take a look at select jurisdictions across the US with laws in place that you should know about.
This article is not legal advice. If you have questions, it could be helpful to seek counsel with an attorney who understands the regulations where you live and work.
The cities (and states) with freelancer-friendly rules and regulations
Protections and requirements for freelancing often originate from state statutes and city ordinances. For a deeper dive into what freelancers need to know about contract law in general, read our chat with an attorney who regularly works with self-employed folks.
Here are the cities with freelancer-focused on the books:
New York City, NY
- The Law: Freelance Isn't Free Act (2017)
- Threshold: Contracts valued at $800 or more (including multiple projects over 120 days)
- Key Protection: If a client doesn't pay, they can be liable for double damages plus attorney fees. The Freelancers Union helpfully lays out how to file a complaint and more, right here. In 2024, New York State enacted its own freelancer legislation to protect contractors anywhere within its borders.
Los Angeles, CA
- The Law: Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance (2023)
- Threshold: Contracts valued at $250 or more, per the new state law outlined below
- Key Protection: While LA enacted freelancer regulations in 2023, the state of California passed its own California Freelance Worker Protection Act in 2025. The law firm Littler breaks down how these laws interact with each other.
Seattle, WA
- The Law: Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance (2022)
- Threshold: Contracts valued at $600 or more per year
- Key Protection: Seattle is unique because it requires a pre-contract disclosure. The client must give freelancers a notice of their rights under the ordinance and a specific document detailing pay, expenses, and schedule before work has begun. The law firm Jackson Lewis explains how it works here.
Minneapolis, MN
- The Law: Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance (2021)
- Threshold: $600 or more in a calendar year
- Key Protection: Provides an administrative process through the city's Labor Standards Division of the Civil Rights Department to investigate non-payment. Littler gives more details on what this means for freelancers in Minneapolis here.
Columbus, OH
- The Law: Columbus City Code Chapter 2337 (2023)
- Threshold: Contracts valued at $250 or more
- Key Protection: Any business based in Columbus must provide a written contract. Violations are handled by the city's Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Commission. Law firm Kohrman Jackson & Krantz sifts through the law here.
Elsewhere, Illinois also adopted a Freelance Worker Protection Act in 2024, similar to the New York and California laws, but with a lower contract threshold ($500 in a 120 day period) and distinct requirements about documentation and payment terms. Littler unpacks the Act’s intricacies here.
Because there’s always more to learn, if you’re interested in educating yourself about how contract laws differ in each state, check out our breakdown here.
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