Vienna considers making all public toilets free

Vienna is currently evaluating a proposal that could make all public toilets universally free, eliminating current charges for cabin use. This initiative is part of the city's red-pink governing agreement forged last year, aiming to address the disparity where using toilet cabins often incurs a fee, while urinals remain accessible without charge.

The city's administration, through the office of the responsible city councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky, confirmed the evaluation is ongoing but has not yet yielded results. The coalition agreement explicitly states the intention to "examine making the use of all public toilets available to all people free of charge, without distinction between urinals and individual cabins."

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We examine making the use of all public toilets available to all people free of charge, without distinction between urinals and individual cabins.

Public criticism of the current fee system has been persistent. Reports indicate a Viennese resident has filed a lawsuit, viewing the situation as discriminatory. Ombudsman Gaby Schwarz has also long criticized the city's inaction, stating that the situation "stinks to high heaven." While the majority of Vienna's 167 public toilet facilities do not charge a fee, 27 high-traffic locations managed with external staff do charge 50 cents for cabin use during staffed hours, citing higher cleaning costs. Urinals in these locations remain free, and cabins are often free outside staffed hours, particularly at night.

Meanwhile, Salzburg is taking a different approach. Starting around 2027, the city plans to increase fees for renovated facilities from 50 cents to one euro. However, Salzburg will also eliminate the gender-based disparity by charging one euro for urinal use, which was previously free, citing high renovation costs. This move aims to standardize costs while addressing the inequality in access.

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The situation stinks to high heaven.