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Building Codes and Inspections/Are buinesses required to have public restrooms?

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Expert: - 4/24/2011


Question
Yesterday, My mother and I and my 3 yr old daughter (who now only wears big girl underwear, no pull-ups) were in our local animal feed store...we made a purchase, and as we were leaving my daughter said she needed to go potty. I went back into the store and asked where the bathroom was, she said they didn't have a "public" restroom, I told her it was for my daughter who is potty training, and shook her head at me and said "I don't think so!" I think it is morally wrong to deny a child the use of the restroom, but my question is, is it illegal?

Answer
I am sure there is no obligation in a business without sit-down eating facilities to have a public restroom, and I think they do not have to make their employee restroom available, but it is certainly strange not to do so for a small child. I think I would contact the owner or management and tell them what happened, and if you have a choice of places to buy animal feed, I would tell them I was going to purchase it elsewhere in the future. I have asked to use the restroom in such places, and am usually allowed to use the facilities. Maybe an old lady gets more respect than a young child!

Was this an employee? Perhaps there was a strict order not to let anyone use the restroom. It may have been a liability issue, or perhaps the restroom is not kept clean, or they had a bad experience letting someone use it and had the toilet overflow (I have had it happen to me). However, I still find it inexcusable not to let a little child use the restroom.

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Sharon Toji

Expertise

I have special expertise in the subject of accessibility codes and guidelines (ADA), and most specifically in the field of signage. If you have a question that is not about the ADA or about signs, I suggest you try the following excellent site: Naffa International BCDG (Building Code Discussion Group). The website address is http://bcodes.infopop.cc/eve/ You do have to register, but it's free. You will find discussions here on all kinds of Building Code Q & A topics. You go to the forum that sounds as if it's close to your topic, check out some of the posts and see if it sounds like a fit. Then pose your question. With luck, you may get some really good answers. You can email some of the experts individually by clicking on the headings of their posts. When you ask a question, of me, or of someone on the above site, tell them your state, and maybe your city if it's a large city. That is crucial for answering code questions. Sharon Toji

Experience

I am a voting delegate to the American National Standards Institute that writes accessiblity standards used by the International Building Code and are the basis for the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). I am also a member of the Access Advisory Committee to the California State Building Standards Commission, among other positions.

Publications
Signs and the ADA (a manual I have written that is used across the country), and articles in many trade journals.

Education/Credentials
BA, Reed College Graduate work, University of Munich (Germany) and University of California, Irvine

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