New California Law Requires Single User Bathrooms To Be Designated All Gender Bathrooms

Beginning March 1, 2017, all single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation, or state or local government agency must be identified as all-gender toilet facilities. The signage must comply with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and designate the bathroom for use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use. A single-user toilet facility is defined by the new law to mean a toilet facility with no more than one toilet and one urinal with a locking mechanism controlled by the user.

With respect to apartment communities, this law applies to areas of the property that are open to the public such as the leasing office. If the apartment community has a clubhouse that may be rented by the public for an event, the law may also apply to clubhouse bathrooms. Areas at the property that are open only to employees, residents, and their guests are not considered public areas.

This bill does not require businesses to add or remove existing restroom facilities or alter current restroom structures, it simply requires a single-user toilet facility (meant for one single-user occupant at a time) to be made available to any person, regardless of a person’s gender designation.

For further information, please contact Wallace, Richardson, Sontag & Le, LLP at (949) 748-3600; website: www.rwclegal.com.

The law firm of Wallace, Richardson, Sontag & Le, LLP represents landlords, property management companies, institutional and private lenders, employers and insurance companies throughout the State of California in real estate, business and employment litigation. The information provided herein is for general interest only and should not be relied upon or construed as legal advice. 

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