In Florida it is illegal for a business doing business with the general public to deny anyone access to a rest room. That crude sign saying “rest room out of order” for days is illegal. That business that says rest rooms for “employees only” is operating illegally.  The clerk or store owner who tells you “no” , when you need to use a rest room is operating illegally, and you have an easy remedy. 

The Florida Statute, Chapter 318.009, is the source. Your local Florida Health Department is the Enforcement Agency. In Miami-Dade County the number is 305-284-0978 and you won’t find it easy in the phone books. This is also a South Florida Building Code provision, Section 512.2, and in Miami-Dade the plumbing section handles these complaints. Their phone is 305-375-4964.

They have been known, unlike the Florida Health Department to make you make a written, notarized complaint. Do it.

And as usual, with government, you must monitor your complaint, for the final outcome. Each time You follow through and make this complaint work; you help the next person.  

553.86  Public restrooms; ratio of facilities for men and women; application; incorporation   into the Florida Building Code.--The Florida Building Commission shall incorporate into the   Florida Building Code, to be adopted by rule pursuant to s. 553.73(1), a ratio of public   restroom facilities for men and women which must be provided in all buildings that are newly   constructed after September 30, 1992, and that have restrooms open to the public. This section does not apply to establishments licensed under chapter 509 if the establishment does  not provide meeting or banquet rooms which accommodate more than 150 persons and the  establishment has at least the same number of water closets for women as the combined total  of water closets and urinals for men.

History.--s. 1, ch. 92-68; s. 1, ch. 93-45; s. 68, ch. 98-287; ss. 52, 108, ch. 2000-141; s. 58,  ch. 2000-154; ss. 34, 39, ch. 2001-186.