Baby Diaper-Changing Accommodations - Laws

Certain new and remodeled business establishments must have baby changing stations accessible to men and women, located in both types of restrooms or in unisex restrooms.

The accommodation can be a specially-designed station that attaches to a wall, table, countertop or other suitable surface. Signs must designate where the accommodations are located.

The requirements do not apply to establishments that received their Certificate of Use and Occupancy prior to February 13, 1999, unless the establishment undergoes major remodeling of more than 50 percent of the gross floor area that includes the restroom.

Hardship exemptions are available if:

No reasonable physical alternative exists for providing baby diaper-changing accommodations; or
The cost of providing such accommodations exceeds 10 percent of the cost of constructing, purchase or substantially modifying the building or facility occupied by the establishment or use

- Theaters and movie houses
- Sports arenas, auditoriums, cultural complexes and exhibition halls
- Libraries
- Passenger terminals
- Permanent amusement park structures
- Restaurants with seating capacity of at least 50 seats serving food for consumption on premises, except where there is a centrally-located facility with diaper-changing accommodations within 300 feet of the entrance of the restaurant
- Retail stores in excess of 5,000 square feet in size
- Shopping centers of more than 25,000 square feet
- Tourist attractions
Failure to comply will result in a violation subject to a civil penalty of $500.
If your business is in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, any building plan submitted to the County must show the baby diaper-changing accommodations. Inspectors will verify that the accommodations exist before granting final building inspections. For information about the building permit process, call 305-375-2500 or visit the Permits site.

If your business is located in a municipality, contact your municipal building official for information about their building permit process.

Consumer Mediation Center

Miami-Dade County's Mediation Center receives, processes and investigates consumer complaints, mediates disputes between consumers and businesses, identifies violations of the law by business operators, and issues civil citations.

Permitting and Inspection Center
11805 SW 26th Street
2nd Floor
Miami, FL 33175
Email: consumer@miamidade.gov
Phone: 786-469-2333
Fax: 786-469-2303
Hours: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are accepted.