San Diego Closes Nearly Half Of Mission Bay's Public Bathrooms As Longstanding Sanitation Complaints Continue Across City

San Diego is closing nearly half the public restrooms at Mission Bay just as summer crowds arrive, but many residents say the bigger problem is that the bathrooms still open are already filthy, understocked and too few. From beach parks to the waterfront outside The Rady Shell, where thousands gather for concerts, public facilities have become a growing source of frustration. Here's which bathrooms are closing and why critics say the cuts could create an even bigger public health problem. 

For years, San Diego has struggled with a shortage of clean, accessible public restrooms. Now, beginning Monday, July 6, that problem is becoming even more pronounced.

As part of budget cuts approved for Fiscal Year 2027, the City of San Diego has closed 13 of Mission Bay Park's 28 public restrooms, eliminating nearly half of the facilities at one of the city's busiest recreational destinations. City officials say the closures will save approximately $546,000 annually, primarily through reduced cleaning and maintenance costs.

The newly closed restrooms include those at:
  • De Anza South
  • Crown Point South
  • El Carmel Point
  • North Cove
  • Ski Beach North
  • Ski Beach Middle
  • Vacation Isle West
  • Bonita Cove East
  • Ventura Point
  • Hospitality Point
  • South Shores
  • Playa Pacifica III
  • Tecolote North
The closures come just days after the Fourth of July holiday, when Mission Bay welcomed tens of thousands of visitors. But for many San Diegans, the announcement raises a larger question: if the city struggles to adequately maintain the public bathrooms that remain open, what happens when there are even fewer?

Visitors have long complained that many of San Diego's public restrooms suffer from overflowing trash, empty toilet paper dispensers, broken fixtures, vandalism and cleanliness issues. At heavily visited waterfront destinations, finding a clean restroom can already be difficult.

One frequently cited example is the lone public restroom serving the public promenades surrounding The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. While thousands gather outside the venue throughout the summer to enjoy concerts from the surrounding waterfront, only a single public restroom serves the area. Visitors have regularly complained about unsanitary conditions, missing supplies and a lack of maintenance, with some reporting the facility appears to be occupied for extended periods by at least one individual using it as shelter.
The Port of San Diego recently announced it will limit access to the promenades during Rady Shell events for public safety and emergency access reasons, further reducing available public space for those who traditionally watched performances from outside the ticketed venue.

In 2022, CBS 8 documented overflowing trash, broken changing tables, missing toilet paper and restrooms covered in urine and feces at La Jolla Shores' Kellogg Park. At the time, city officials acknowledged the facilities were being cleaned only once per day because of staffing shortages instead of the normal two or three daily cleanings during busy seasons.

The July 6 restroom closures are part of a broader rollback of public sanitation infrastructure that has generated criticism from public health experts and community advocates.

Earlier this year, Mayor Todd Gloria's budget proposed closing dozens of public restrooms throughout Mission Bay, Balboa Park, downtown and other public spaces to reduce operating costs. Public health advocates warned the move could have unintended consequences, pointing to San Diego's 2017 hepatitis A outbreak and the 2021 shigella outbreak, both of which were linked in part to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. Previous San Diego County Grand Jury reports have repeatedly urged the city to expand - not reduce - public restroom access, warning that insufficient facilities pose ongoing public health risks.

The city has previously acknowledged the importance of restroom access. In 2021, Mayor Todd Gloria pledged to place a public toilet within a five-minute walk anywhere downtown following concerns raised during the shigella outbreak. Since then, however, budget constraints have increasingly put restroom funding on the chopping block.

Supporters of the closures argue the city faces difficult financial decisions and must prioritize limited resources. Critics counter that public restrooms are not a luxury but essential infrastructure, particularly in a city that welcomes millions of visitors annually and encourages outdoor recreation year-round.

As Mission Bay enters the busiest months of summer with nearly half its public restrooms now closed, residents will soon find out whether the remaining facilities can handle the increased demand - or whether the city will simply see longer lines, dirtier bathrooms and fewer options for everyone.

Originally published on July 6, 2026.