2906-25 Ordinance re Single Use Bathrooms 4912-3398-1223 v.1 - 3.12.25.pdf

1 2906-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10 TO ADD A NEW SECTION OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE REGARDING SINGLE-USE BATHROOMS BE IT ORDANED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY that Chapter 10 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township of West Orange be and are hereby amended as follows: I. PURPOSE The purpose of this Ordinance is to require any business establishment to designate all single-occupancy bathrooms as gender neutral. § 10-_____: Definitions Single-Occupancy Facility or Single-Occupancy Restroom: Shall mean a toilet facility with one toilet in the facility, or a toilet and one urinal without a privacy stall separating the two with a locking mechanism controlled by the user on the door to enter the facility. §10-____: Requirements for Single-Occupancy Restrooms A. All single-occupancy restrooms in any business establishment, place of public accommodation, and Township-owned building or facility shall be designated as all gender for any individual, family, or assisted use. This includes single-occupancy restrooms intended for use by Township employees or employees of a business or public accommodation. B. Existing business establishments, places of public accommodation, and Township facilities subject to this section shall have 60 days from the effective date of this Ordinance to comply by replacing existing gender-specific signage on the exterior of single-occupancy restrooms with signs that do not indicate a specific gender (such as signs that read "restroom"). New businesses, places of public accommodation, and Township facilities shall be in compliance with this section immediately upon opening to the public. C. During any inspection of a business or a place of public accommodation by an employee of the Township of West Orange Zoning Department, Building Department, or other local official, the inspector or official may inspect for compliance with this Ordinance.

2 II. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES Any Ordinances of the Township which are in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. III. SEVERABILITY If any part of this Ordinance shall be deemed invalid, such determination shall only apply to those specific section(s), paragraph(s), subparagraph(s), clause(s) or provision(s) and those parts shall be severed. The invalidity thereof shall not affect the remaining parts of this Ordinance which shall be deemed valid and effective. IV. EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication in accordance with the law SUSAN McCARTNEY, MAYOR JOE KRAKOVIAK COUNCIL PRESIDENT KAREN J. CARNEVALE, R.M.C., MUNICIPAL CLERK INTRODUCED: March 25, 2025 ADOPTED: April 22, 2025

3 2906-25 Legislative History The purpose of this Ordinance is to require any business establishment to designate all single-occupancy bathrooms as gender neutral.