NYC Bathroom Requirements for Businesses

Effective 1 January 2017 businesses in New York City will have a new requirement to meet.  The New York City Council passed a law (NYC Gender-neutral Single Occupant Bathroom Ordnance) in June of 2016 which requires all businesses in the city to make all single occupant toilet rooms available for use by persons of any sex.

The law does not require businesses to make any physical alteration of a single-occupant toilet room except for the posting and maintenance of appropriate signage (in accordance with section 403.4 of the New York city plumbing code).

Single-occupant toilet room is defined as toilet room with no more than one water closet and no more than one urinal.

Businesses will not be required to alter the number of toilet rooms in a building otherwise required by the 1968 Building Code.

Required public facilities shall be designated by a legible sign for each sex or, for a single-occupant toilet room, for all sexes.

Signs must be readily visible and located near the entrance to each toilet facility. 

Sources:
NYC Gender-neutral Single Occupant Bathroom Ordnance

By Bill Williams