All Gender Restroom Bill: A New Law for CA Employers

Approved by California Governor September 29, 2016, AB 1732. Single-user restrooms goes into effect March 1, 2017.

California is the first state in the nation to adopt legislation requiring that all single occupancy restrooms in the states businesses, government buildings and other places of public accommodation be open to all genders.

This bill requires ALL single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation, or government agency to be identified as all-gender toilet facilities, as specified.

The bill would authorize inspectors, building officials, or other local officials responsible for code enforcement to inspect for compliance with these provisions during any inspection.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Article 5 (commencing with Section 118600) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 15 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

•  All single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation, or state or local government agency shall be identified as all-gender toilet facilities by signage that complies with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, and designated for use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use.
• During any inspection of a business or a place of public accommodation by an inspector, building official, or other local official responsible for code enforcement, the inspector or official may inspect for compliance with this section.
• For the purposes of this section, “single-user toilet facility” means a toilet facility with no more than one water closet and one urinal with a locking mechanism controlled by the user.

For the California Legislation Information page on Bill AB 1732, click here.