Building Inspection Commission backs ordinance to require all‑gender signage for single‑stall hotel and SRO bathrooms

Commissioners voted unanimously to support proposed changes to the housing code that would require single-stall toilet and bathing facilities in hotels and single-room-occupancy (SRO) buildings to be designated as all-gender and to have signage indicating that designation.

Carolyn Goosen of Supervisor Ronen's office described the proposal (File No. 171,285) as an expansion of prior public- and state-level work on single-user restroom access. She said the change is primarily a signage requirement and does not require plumbing alterations. "This is largely about safety and fairness for our transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals," Goosen said, and emphasized that the change could particularly benefit SRO residents, where many transgender tenants live.

Tenant representative Jordan Davis, who serves on the SRO task force, said members voted in favor of the change and that many SROs still display gendered signage for shared single-user facilities. "As a disabled transgender woman, I pushed this because it's low-hanging fruit that improves safety for residents," Davis said.

Commissioner Walker moved that the Commission support the legislation; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with President McCarthy, Vice President Walker, Commissioners Constance, Lee and Warshall all recorded as "yes." The Commission did not enact the ordinance itself; its action is a recommendation in support of the proposed code amendment.

Next steps identified in the meeting record: DBI staff will coordinate with the sponsor's office and Planning/other agencies as the ordinance moves through the Board of Supervisors process.