Can a business refuse to let you use their restroom?

I was shopping in Anna's Linens today and noticed the sign they have in their window. It states their bathrooms are not for public use. Is this legal?

It depends on the state. In some states there must be a public restroom; in others you don't.

Here it isn't required. I use to work in a area were the bathroom was kept private because of the expense of making it public. Also, we didn't want to have to "monitor" the bathroom to make it was clean. Trust me, non customers who come in just for the toilet do not tend to leave it clean. One person came in a messed all over the wall & floor (bad aim I guess). That left it for one of us to clean it up.

ICK

Absolutely.....its private property....would you have to allow me to use your restroom?

Absolutely, a lot of places are that way. Most of them have bathrooms back with storage or that are only for "customer" use.

In that case, yeah, it would likely be legal.

In most cases, the only businesses legally required to provide restrooms for customers are places that serve food.

I'm afraid so. The only establishments open to the public that are required to provide restrooms are restaraunts.

Yes it is very legal. A business does not have to allow the public use of their restrooms unless they serve food or beverages. I work at a consignment store and we DO NOT allow the public to use our private employee only restrooms. We do not serve food or beverages, so it is not against the law.

This reminds me of a story I read. Workers refused to let a woman use the restroom when she had diarrhea in their store. Terrible, but I guess businesses think they can make their own rules.

They can anything they want with their restroom. It is not illegal to refuse the use of their facilities. Restrooms are there for convenience, not by law. Most businesses don't want to have to deal with the mess that a public restroom can accumulate and designate if for employees only.

A place of business such as a bar or a restaurant, reserves a right for restroom privileges to those who are paying customers, can refuse anyone who aren't theirs.

Depends on local zoning regulations on whether a particular business is required provide restrooms. Most retail locations are not required to provide restroom facilities.

Yes, a store is private property, just like your own house. A store may invite the public in under any conditions it wants to set - just like a party at your own house. It can also restrict use of things like restrooms, and choose to refuse service to individuals (with certain legal restrictions on discrimination).

Absolutely.