When you gotta go, you gotta go. But unfortunately in NYC, sometimes there’s not always somewhere to go. That’s because NYC has one of the lowest numbers of public restrooms per capita among America’s biggest cities.
However, New York City Councilmember, Sandy Nurse, is sponsoring a bill that could change that. The bill goes over a longterm bathroom strategy that would amend the administrative code.
More public bathrooms in NYC would enhance New Yorkers’ quality of life, reduce transmission of diseases, and lessen crime in regards to charges of public urination. Moreover, a Testimony of Coalition for the Homeless and The Legal Aid Society explained that, “unsheltered New Yorkers continually and consistently articulate a desperate need for bathroom access. The lack of public bathrooms is one of the daunting challenges and cruel indignities that unsheltered New Yorkers face as they draw on meager resources to survive life on the streets.”
The Deputy Mayor, Department of City Planning, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Transportation, and other relevant agencies would lead the bill’s efforts in collaboration. NYC would have a permanent plan for initiating and maintaining a citywide network of public bathrooms.
The established goal is to have at least 2,120 public bathrooms by 2035. Half of the proposed amount would need to be publicly owned.
Within the strategic plan, the relevant agency “would propose a capital strategy, recommend law or policy changes to support bathroom openings or conversions, and identify sites that could be converted to public bathroom use. The report would recommend a design model for a modular bathroom facility as compliant with city requirements. The agency would also post a comprehensive online map of all public bathrooms in the City,” according to the bill.
Overall, the New York City Council approved the bill on April 10th, 2025. Thus, it will now be sent to the Mayor for his approval. Mayor Eric Adams has 30 days to either sign it into law, veto the bill or do nothing.
We recently dared to venture into one of the subway bathrooms, and you won’t believe what it looked like. 👇
Don’t worry, we also created the ultimate guide to the best public bathrooms in NYC, recommended by locals for when you’re really in a pinch.
Stay tuned for the Mayor’s decision to come. And for all our bladders’ sakes, we’re hoping we get more public bathrooms.