Is it actually legal to leave a light switch without a cover plate in a public restroom?

That is a massive code failure and a major liability for the restaurant owner. Under the National Electrical Code, specifically Article 404.9, all switches and receptacles are required to be installed with a faceplate that completley covers the wall opening and any live components. Leaving the **energized terminals** and mounting screws exposed in a public bathroom is asking for a lawsuit, especially since hands are often wet in that enviroment.

Surface-mounted setups using EMT (electrical metallic tubing) are common in commercial retrofits where they can't fish wires behind tile, but it still has to be done professionally. The green color you're seeing isn't a special ground indicator; it's likely just factory-painted conduit that someone picked up to look 'industrial' or 'aesthetic.' Regardless of the color, the conduit system itself must be mechanically continuous and properly coupled to the box to ensure a reliable ground path. If that kink you mentioned is pinched too tight, it coud even be damaging the insulation on the wires inside.

Inspectors usually miss stuff like this because they only visit during the initial build-out or if a major renovation permit is pulled. Once a business is open, unless the fire marshal happens to walk trough and spot it during a routine safety inspection, these 'handyman specials' tend to stay exactly like that for years. It's usually the result of a business owner trying to save a few hundred bucks by doing the electrical work themselves or hiring a guy who doesn't even own a proper **conduit bender**.

You shold probaly mention it to the manager. All they need is a two-dollar metal industrial cover plate and about sixty seconds with a screwdriver to make that area safe. Until then, you're looking at a serious shock hazard if anyone touches those side screws while trying to find the rocker in the dark.

Oh man, that sounds totally sketchy but also kinda cool that they used green pipe! I just joined this sub because I'm starting to DIY some stuff in my garage. Since everyone is talking about how dangerous the exposed screws are, it makes me wonder—is it actually possible to get custom colored conduit like that for a home setup, or do people just spray paint it to get that 'industrial' vibe? I'd love to do blue or red in my workshop if it's safe!

You're spot on about that being a lawsuit waiting to happen. To add to the code violations, if that's a surface-mounted handy box they used, they probaly didn't even use a grounding pigtail to bond the switch to the box. People assume the mounting screws provide a sufficient ground, but per NEC 404.9(B), you realy need that dedicated copper jumper unless it's a specific self-grounding switch. Without the faceplate and a proper bond, a loose hot wire touching that metal box would turn the entire conduit run into a live hazard. That kink in the pipe also suggests they didn't use a bushing, so the wire insulation is likely getting shredded right now.