Planning guide
Where to Put a Porta Potty: A Placement Guide
The right spot keeps the unit level, the smell away from guests, the neighbors happy and the driver able to deliver. Here is how to pick it.
What makes a good porta potty spot?
A good porta potty spot is flat, firm, within about 50 feet of truck access, and 30 to 50 feet from where people eat. The door faces away from the street and the neighbors. On hot days, shade cuts odor. At night, a light nearby keeps guests safe.
- Ground: pavement, gravel or firm grass. Avoid soft mulch beds and septic drain fields.
- Path: 4 ft wide for standard units, 7 to 8 ft for ADA units, 10 ft for trailers.
- Distance from food: 30 to 50 ft, downwind if you can.
- Distance from fire: 10 ft from grills, fire pits and heaters.
- Hand washing: station within 10 to 20 ft of the units.
Placement at home in an HOA neighborhood
In HOA neighborhoods, place the unit beside the garage, behind the house or at the end of the driveway with the door turned away from the street. Ask the community manager about temporary structures before delivery. Most associations accept a short remodel rental with notice.
Keep the unit off the street to avoid a right-of-way permit. See permit rules.
Placement on jobsites
On a jobsite, place units where the service truck can reach them every week without moving materials, away from the dumpster path and crane swing, and on level ground. On upper floors and open lots, ask for the unit to be staked or strapped.
See jobsite rentals for OSHA counts.
What to tell the dispatcher
Tell the dispatcher the gate code, gate width, any low wires or branches, steps on the path, soft ground, and where the truck should park. A texted photo of the spot with a cone in it prevents almost every delivery problem.
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