In March 2017, a new law was put into effect for California businesses with single user restrooms. AB 1732 for Equal Restroom Access by Assemblyman Phil Ting of the 19th District (contact phone number 916.319.2019) requires all single restrooms in any business, public accommodation, or government agency to be identified as “all-gender” restrooms. The bill authorizes building officials, inspectors, or other local code enforcement official to inspect for compliance with this newly implemented law.
A single user restroom is defined as a “toilet facility with no more than one water closet and one urinal with a locking mechanism by the user”. Businesses will need to check their signs for compliance. The signs must comply with Building Code Standards relating to all-gender signs.
The California Building Standards Code provides information on restroom signage requirements that you need to be aware of for your business. California requires at least two signs to identify each restroom open to the public: a geometric and designation tactile signage (circle and triangle). Effective with this new law, all single occupancy all-gender restrooms must be identified by a combined sign with an equilateral triangle within a circle. The all-gender symbol is the only specific indicator required for all-gender restrooms. The state law does not require any specific wording or pictograms on the all-gender symbol. Although the city of San Francisco does have some specific requests for wording and pictures on wall signs.
Below is a reference guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) as an aid to comply with new state law requirements relating to the identification of single-user toilet facilities as all-gender toilet facilities.
For guidance on new laws affecting the restaurant industry, please contact us.