Chicago's First Self-Cleaning Public Toilet Opens at the Polish Triangle

Chicago has launched its first automated, self-cleaning public toilet at the Polish Triangle plaza in West Town. The free facility operates daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring a 15-minute usage limit and a 2-minute automated cleaning cycle after each use.

Caitlin O'Malley

November 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Chicago's first automated, self-cleaning public toilet opened Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at the Polish Triangle plaza in West Town, where Milwaukee Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Division Street meet. The facility is free to use, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and limits each visit to 15 minutes before the door opens on its own.

Chicago Debuts First Self-Cleaning Public Toilet in West Town

Officials and community members gathered Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the restroom, which the city installed as part of a pilot initiative to improve access to public restrooms. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), whose ward includes the site, said in a statement that he was proud to bring the city's first public bathroom to the area and eager to see how the pilot develops.

City officials said the location was chosen for its foot traffic, proximity to public transportation, and surrounding businesses and community destinations. The installation cost approximately $500,000, covered by the city, according to La Spata. JCDecaux, an outdoor advertising and street furniture company, provided the toilet and is covering maintenance costs, according to Alan Sullivan, co-CEO of JCDecaux North America.

Your First Visit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is the sequence a user will experience, based on details officials provided at the opening:

Enter the facility. The restroom features automatic door operation, so no coins or tokens are needed — use is free.
Note the countdown clock. A clock inside shows how much of your 15-minute limit remains.
Finish within the limit. Each use is capped at 15 minutes. When time is up, the door automatically opens.
Exit. The cleaning cycle begins once you leave.
The self-cleaning cycle runs. The toilet initiates a washing and disinfection cycle that takes about 2 minutes, according to officials. During the cycle, the toilet seat retracts to be washed, disinfected and air dried, then returns for the next user, Sullivan said.

The unit also includes grab bars, an accessible interior layout, hands-free functionality, non-slip flooring and an emergency call button.

Essential information for Chicago's first self-cleaning public toilet
Feature	Detail	What it means for you
Location	Polish Triangle plaza, at Milwaukee Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Division Street, West Town/Wicker Park	Steps from transit and neighborhood businesses
Hours	7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily	Current hours for the pilot program
Cost	Free	No payment needed to enter
Time limit	15 minutes per use, with a countdown clock inside	Door opens automatically when time expires
Cleaning	About 2 minutes after each use	Seat retracts, is washed, disinfected and air dried
Safety features	Emergency call button, grab bars, non-slip flooring	Accessibility built into the design

Community Reactions to the Pilot Program

The installation has drawn mixed reactions from neighbors. Some voiced concerns about the site and how the facility will be used. "There's a huge social service issue, specifically in the Polish Triangle, with the homeless population. I am concerned a little bit about [the bathroom] increasing the homeless population here," neighbor Nic Peart said. Another neighbor, Alexis Peart, called it "an unfortunate misuse of city resources."

But plenty of neighbors were more excited to see the new public amenity, and the opening included a ceremonial "First Flush" performed by neighbor Christian Malatesta. The facility is managed under the city's pilot initiative, and officials have said its performance will be evaluated to determine whether the program continues.