What are the laws on restroom use in a fast food restaurant for non
patroning public?

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 31 Jan 2005 02:11 PST

Where?  (country, state, city)

Are you asking whether the restaurant must allow non-customers to use its restrooms?

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Clarification of Question by patriciasmoon-ga on 31 Jan 2005 10:50 PST

IN REGARDS TO QUESTION OF RESTROOMS , YES I AM ASKING ABOUT USE TO NON CUSTOMERS.

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Clarification of Question by patriciasmoon-ga on 31 Jan 2005 19:22 PST

SAN BERNARDINO, CA. USA

THE ANSWER TO YOUR ?? IS YES

Fast food restaurants are private property.  If they do permit non
customers to use their restrooms, it is only a "favor" or building
good will.  They are not required to let you use their restrooms any
more than a stranger is allowed to use the restrooms in your home.

There are specific regulations pertaining to how many stalls are
required in a restaurant, but these numbers only count maximum number
of customers, not non-customers: people off the street.

It's common for restaurants to post signs stating their restrooms are
for "Customer Use Only," meaning you need to purchase *something* to
be able to use their restrooms.  There is nothing illegal about this. 
It keeps out undesirables and loiterers, and keeps the customers safe
from walking in on a junkie, or person asking for a hand-out.

Here's Page 2 of an article in the Seattle Stranger that mentions this:

http://www.thestranger.com/2000-03-23/feature-3.html

~~Cynthia