Poland proposes new regulations for public toilet access in retail buildings

The Polish Ministry of Development and Technology has prepared a new regulation regarding technical conditions for buildings, which aims to clarify access to public restrooms. The draft, which was notified to the European Commission in August 2026, seeks to address situations where customers are denied access to toilets within retail or service buildings by staff claiming they are for employees only.

The proposed regulation specifies that in public utility buildings and workplaces, a public toilet must be provided that is also intended for individuals who are not employees of the building. This change is intended to assist seniors, pregnant women, parents with small children, and individuals with medical conditions requiring rapid access to sanitation.

The new rules do not mandate that every single retail outlet must build a separate customer toilet regardless of size. Instead, the project differentiates limits based on the type of activity and the usable area of the facility, modifying existing exceptions for smaller commercial or service buildings.