California Requirements for All-Gender Restrooms
California state law, effective March 1, 2017, requires that all single-user toilet facilities now be identified for use by any gender as opposed to being identified as gender-specific. This new requirement is applicable to both new and existing facilities.
This CASp notice applies to California’s public restroom facilities, such as:
- City, county and other public buildings which includes schools, libraries, parks, courts, town meetings, police and fire departments, transportation centers, motor vehicle licensing, and all places of programs and services.
- Business establishments and places of public accommodation which includes, but not limited to, retail markets and stores, medical offices, coffee shops, restaurants, commercial office buildings, amusement parks, churches, hair and nail salons, pharmacies, malls and theaters.
California Health & Safety Code 118600 states:
(A) 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.
(B) 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.
(C) 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 door locking mechanism controlled by the user.
(D) This code requirement became operative on March 1, 2017.
DOOR SIGN SPECIFICS
Single-user toilet facilities in new facilities and within existing single-user toilet facilities are required to comply with the change of door signs.
Where a facility or business has restrooms identified as “MEN” and “WOMEN”, the door signs must be replaced. The new All-Gender door signs shall be the geometric UNI-SEX restroom door sign (see below).
A pictogram, text, or Braille is not required on the Door Sign. The use of pictograms on door signs are commonly found at sign supply stores, but the use of pictograms on door signs is discouraged.
All-Gender toilet and bathing facilities shall be identified by a circle, 1/4 inch thick and 12 inches in diameter with a 1/4 inch thick triangle with a vertex pointing upward superimposed on the circle and within the 12-inch diameter.
The color of the triangle symbol shall contrast with the color of the circle symbol, either light on a dark background or dark on a light background. The circle symbol shall contrast with the color of the door, either light on a dark background or dark on light background.
Mounting height specifications require that signs be centered on the door, 58”- 60” above the floor.
Sign for a dark color door.
Sign for a light color door
WALL SIGN SPECIFICS
When changing door signs of existing single-user toilet facilities to all-gender signs it is advised that the Braille wall sign, where provided, shall be replaced to a wall sign without pictograms. Pictograms are not required by code to be a part of the signs. If a wall sign is provided next to the door it must comply with the scoping requirements of CBC 11B-216.2, and the technical requirements for Sign Characters (CBC 11B-703.2), Braille (CBC 11B-703.3), Visual Characters (CBC 11B-703.5), and requirements for location and height (CBC 11B-703.4).
The following signs illustrate acceptable examples for All-Gender wall signs:
CASp Experts can verify compliance of your new signage to ensure your facility is compliant and not in violation of California code and the UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
Call CASp Experts today at 818 391-2570. We serve your area.
