Michigan city becomes the first US city to require menstrual products in all public bathrooms

DETROIT — A new Ann Arbor, Michigan ordinance requires all public bathrooms to provide sanitary products, including pads and tampons, to users at no cost — and it's believed to be the first city in the United States to do so.

The new ordinance, effective Jan. 1, 2022, applies to all public restrooms under the plumbing code, not just municipal buildings, and without regard to gender designation.

"Access to menstrual products is a fundamental human necessity," said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. "It's a matter of public health and personal dignity. And it's something that should be provided to everyone."

The ordinance, which passed through Ann Arbor city council unanimously on Nov. 15, also ensures that other sanitary products, including toilet paper, soap, paper towels and water, are also provided.

Other cities have similar measures, ones that just apply to municipal buildings or in schools, but none have been as all-encompassing. 

Taylor said the inspiration to propose the measure came after a young resident of Ann Arbor came to him with the idea.

"A high school student came to me to express her concern that persons without established residences had difficulty obtaining menstrual products," he said. "And that got me to thinking over time, there have been some advances with respect to schools, particularly in Illinois and New York in government buildings. California has got one as well. And I asked staff to look and see whether we could obligate at all public restrooms in Ann Arbor provide the supplies because they're basic and fundamental for people.

"We can and we did."

This comes amid a move to make period products more accessible and affordable across the state. Earlier this month, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the "tampon tax" bill, which exempts products like pads and tampons from certain taxes. 

Taylor said the ordinance should not cost the city or businesses much money and that it's an opportunity with low costs that will achieve a "social good."

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He noted that many stakeholders and organizations throughout the city supported the move before the vote.

"People without established residences live their daily life just like all of us, they have the same bodily necessities as all of us, and their access to supplies that many of us don't give a second thought to is difficult," Taylor said. "And so the provision of basic sanitation supplies in all public restrooms in Arbor will be, for them, an important life improving measure."

Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.