The availability and regulation of gender-neutral restrooms in the United States is a rapidly evolving landscape, with significant variation between states and between types of facilities. Here is a current overview.

What Is a Gender-Neutral Restroom?

Gender-neutral restrooms are facilities that can be used by any person regardless of gender identity. They include:

  • Single-occupancy unisex restrooms: One person at a time, any gender — common in coffee shops and small businesses
  • Multi-stall all-gender restrooms: Multiple stalls with floor-to-ceiling privacy dividers, open to all — increasingly common in new construction
  • Family restrooms: Usually single-occupancy, intended for families but often effectively gender-neutral

States Requiring Gender-Neutral Options

California leads the country with SB-1004 (2021), which requires all single-occupancy restrooms in businesses, government buildings and public places to be designated as all-gender. Massachusetts, Maine, Illinois, New York and Washington have similar requirements for public or government buildings.

States Restricting Gender-Neutral Restrooms

A number of states have passed or proposed legislation restricting restroom use to biological sex. These laws primarily affect public schools and government buildings. The legal status of these laws continues to be challenged in federal courts.

Tip: The Refuge Restrooms app (refugerestrooms.org) specifically maps gender-neutral and gender-inclusive restroom facilities and allows users to rate safety and accessibility.

Federal Buildings

Following executive orders expanding transgender rights, federal agencies have moved toward providing gender-neutral restroom options in federal facilities. Implementation varies by agency and location.

Airports

Most major US airports have added gender-neutral single-occupancy restrooms in recent years. Larger airports are increasingly adding multi-stall all-gender facilities in new terminal construction. Airports in California are required to provide all-gender single-occupancy facilities.

What Travelers Need to Know

For transgender and non-binary travelers, researching destination restroom availability in advance is important for comfort and safety. The Refuge Restrooms app is the most comprehensive tool for this. When staying in hotels, single-occupancy restrooms in the lobby and fitness center are typically a reliable all-gender option.