The West Hollywood ordinance to require that all single-stall restrooms in businesses and places of public accommodation be gender-neutral takes effect this month. The ordinance has no impact on multiple-stall restrooms in the city.

Gender-specific restrooms can be unwelcoming and potentially unsafe for many people whose gender identity falls outside of traditional gender norms, officials said, and shifting from gender-specific single-stall restrooms to gender-neutral ones is a simple and low-cost way to help ensure that facilities in West Hollywood are welcoming and open to all people, regardless of the way one presents or identifies their gender identity.

Officials said the new ordinance provides a direct benefit to a number of different users including transgender and gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities or with personal attendants, people with children of a different gender and to the many people who have waited in line for a gender-specific restroom when a restroom for a gender for which they don’t identify remained empty.

The ordinance applies to existing and future single-stall restrooms — defined as intended for use by one person at a time — in food and commercial establishments, retail locations, and city facilities. Existing businesses are afforded a 60-day period in order to make necessary changes to comply with the ordinance. New businesses are required to comply immediately.