It is a question that all business owners have to face when planning the layout of their stores or restaurants. Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as we’d like. In California, the number of required restrooms is dictated by the California Plumbing Code, Table 2902.1. However, each county may have its own requirements summarized in their specific building code and that may deviate from the state requirements. Checking with your local Building Department is a mandatory step in order to find out whether any local codes apply to your business.
But things are not as simple as looking through the provided tables and finding out how many restrooms your business needs. There are specific calculations involved, and problems may arise if these are not done correctly. While, generally, your designer or architect can do these calculations for you, keep in mind that sometimes even contractors get confused when it comes to how many restrooms a particular space needs.