New York Enacts Law Requiring Single Occupancy Restrooms Be Gender-Neutral

Assembly Bill A5240A was recently signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The new law amends New York State Civil Rights Law and Education Law to make all single-occupancy bathrooms located in public places, including schools, restaurants, bars, and other establishments, gender-neutral. The new law becomes effective on March 23, 2021.

Assembly Bill A5240A amends New York State’s Civil Rights Law and Education Law to make all single-occupancy bathrooms located in public places, including schools, restaurants, bars, and other establishments, gender-neutral, and is similar to a New York City law passed in 2016.

The law does not require businesses or schools to build new gender-neutral, single-occupancy restrooms. Instead, existing single-occupancy bathrooms must remove any signage designating the bathroom as “male” or “female” and replace it with signage indicating it is gender neutral or open to people of all genders.