After many years of employee advocacy, King County is expanding the number of inclusive restrooms. Transgender and gender expansive employees have highlighted the need to create more inclusive restroom access where employees do not need to choose between gender-specific restrooms.  

To advance this effort, the county will update sets of restrooms on the 5th and 12th floors of the Chinook Building and the northeast set of restrooms on the 3rd floor of the King Street Center to All People Restrooms. In this first phase, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) will install privacy strips in the stalls, post new signage indicating what types of fixtures can be found in the restroom, and make urinals temporarily unavailable. FMD began the work this week and it should be completed by the end of the year. 

The 2023/24 FMD budget includes funding to further renovate the All People Restrooms by replacing current stalls with compartments that provide more privacy.  

Employees who work in Chinook and King Street Center will automatically be given access to the floors with All People Restrooms. There will continue to be gender-specific restrooms on the other floors of the building that employees can use if they prefer.   

King County’s True North is to be a welcoming community where all people have the opportunity to thrive. This vision naturally includes our employees. One of the ways we are realizing our True North in the workplace is by creating inclusive, respectful, and easy access to restrooms for people of all genders, people with disabilities, and anyone whose bathroom access is simplified by not having to choose a gender-specific restroom. 

You can check out the FAQs and additional information here.