The 2018 IPC requires separate male and female bathroom facilities with a few exceptions. The 2021 IPC has two more exceptions that will allow a single bathroom facility to be shared by males and females if toilets are in their own stalls and urinals are visually separated or provided with stalls as well. 

The current requirement to provide separate bathroom facilities does, in general, require more floor space overall; but with shared facilities, the amount of space needed to provide the required number of toilets and sinks will be reduced. This will allow more usable floor space for businesses. The shared bathroom facilities will also provide a safer environment for children when either parent may accompany the child into the bathroom facility.

The State of Georgia adopts every other code cycle and will not adopt the 2021 IPC but will instead adopt the 2024 IPC in 2025. This amendment will allow more flexible use of having shared bathroom facilities already allowed in the latest version of the IPC.

Approval