HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 09/09/2025 - Letter from Mayor Jeni Arndt to Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board re Single-Occupancy Bathrooms in Fort Collins
Mayor
City Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
September 4, 2025
Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board
c/o Kayla Redd, Staff Liaison
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Chair Gallichotte and Board Members:
Thank you for providing the memorandum regarding the International Building Code
Amendments and particularly your request that all single-occupancy bathrooms in Fort Collins
be designated as accommodating all genders.
As you specified, the City Council is scheduled to consider the Building Code and Energy Code
item on Tuesday, September 9 during the Council Work Session. We encourage the Board to
view the meeting either in person at City Hall at 6:00 p.m., or online at fcgov.com/fctv.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and share with City
Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Dear Council,
The Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board (WGEAB) proposes that all single-occupancy bathrooms in Fort
Collins be designated as accommodating all genders.
Sex segregated single-occupancy restrooms make little sense for families, caregivers, and members of the
transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming community. Having two identical facilities, one for women
and one for men, will always exclude or delay someone, or worse – a transgender or non-binary person is less
likely to queue outside a sex segregated restroom as this leaves them vulnerable for potential harassment.
Designating these as all-gender restrooms is a sensible solution for inclusivity and equity as well as facility
efficiency.
All-gender single occupancy restrooms align with the City’s Strategic Plan, Neighborhood & Community
Vitality Strategic Objective 3:
“Identify and remove systemic barriers and advance equity so that persons of all identities, including race,
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, mental and physical abilities,
and socioeconomic levels can access programs and services with ease and experience equitable outcomes.”
According to the 6-month calendar, City Council will be discussing Building Codes at the work session on
September 9th. When Fort Collins City Council passed the 2021 IBC amendments in 2022, it required that newly
built single-user restrooms to be gender neutral.
2902.2 Required restroom facilities. Restroom fixtures shall be provided in quantities per Table 2902.1,
which shall be achieved by either gender-neutral single-user restrooms or by multi-user (multi-fixture)
restrooms for each sex.....
In 2018, when Denver passed its 2016 IBC amendments, they added a requirement that all existing single-
occupant toilet facilities be made gender neutral (noting the city would provide gender-neutral signage).
Section 2902.4.2 Gender-neutral signage and its subsections are added:
2902.4.2 Gender-neutral signage. Gender-neutral single-occupant toilet facilities provided in
accordance with Section 2909.2.1, 2902.2.2, and family or assisted-use toilet facilities, shall be provided
with signs that clearly indicate the facility is open to use by all genders.
2902.4.2.1 Existing facilities. After April 30, 2018, all existing single-occupant toilet facilities
(consisting of one water closet and one lavatory), and family or assisted-use toilet facilities, shall
be provided with signage in accordance with Section 2902.4.2 above, and single-occupant toilet
facilities must also have a door lock per IBC Section 2902.3.5 as amended.
They advertised this change to the community with this flyer, GENDER‐NEUTRAL Restroom Signs in Denver,
explaining the change to the code and contact information for inspections. It also notes:
Using gender-neutral signs is a simple change that helps build a more inclusive and welcoming city by
removing barriers for those who are transgender, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary, or need to accompany
a caregiver, or a child, of a different gender to the restroom.
We request that as City Council discusses the building codes at your September 9th work session and
subsequent regular meetings, that you include this amendment requiring all existing single-occupant facilities be
all-gender, and make Fort Collins a more inclusive and equitable community for everyone.
Thank you,
Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board