Where to place a porta potty
Place a porta potty on flat, firm ground that our truck can reach, a short walk from where people gather but away from the food and the neighbors' windows. Keep it off septic lines and sprinkler heads. If it has to sit on a street or sidewalk in Erie, check with the city about a permit first.
What kind of ground does a porta potty need?
A porta potty needs flat, firm ground about 4 by 4 feet for a standard unit. A driveway, a concrete pad, packed gravel or level lawn all work. A gentle slope is fine, but a unit on a tilt rocks, the door swings on its own, and guests feel it. Soft, soggy ground is the real problem.
Our driver levels the unit on arrival. Small dips are easy to shim. A steep bank or a ditch is not.
After a week of rain, a lawn that looks firm can be soft under a loaded truck. We avoid soft ground, and we are not responsible for normal ruts if we have to cross it. A driveway spot is always the safer choice.
A wheelchair-accessible unit needs more room, about 8 by 8 feet, and the ground has to be flat. It also needs a firm path to the door, not wet grass.
How close does the truck need to get?
The truck needs to get within about 15 feet of the porta potty spot for a normal drop. For backyards, our crew can roll a standard unit on a hand dolly up to about 75 feet on a firm, level path. The path needs about 4 feet of clear width, since the unit is about 44 inches wide.
A standard 4-foot gate usually works. Measure it before you book, and count posts and latches that stick out.
The truck also comes back to clean. Monthly units get pumped weekly from a hose on the truck, so the service lane has to stay open.
How far should a porta potty be from the house, tent or food?
A porta potty should be a short, easy walk from where guests gather, but out of sight of the food table and downwind of it. Put it at the edge of the party, not in the middle. For a house project, put it near the door the crew uses, but not under a bedroom window.
Guests will not hunt for a unit. If they cannot see it from the party, add a small sign. If they can see it from dinner, move it.
Keep the line out of the traffic flow. A unit next to the food line creates one long jam.
Handwashing goes between the toilets and the food, in the walking path. Our handwashing stations need no hookups, so they can sit anywhere level.
Which way should the porta potty door face?
The porta potty door should face away from the crowd, away from the street and away from the wind. Facing away from guests gives privacy. Facing away from the street keeps passersby from using it. Facing away from the wind keeps the door from slamming and keeps rain or snow out.
Near Lake Erie, the wind usually comes off the water. On the bluffs along West Lake Road, at Presque Isle or on the Bayfront, turn the door away from the lake and ask us to stake the unit down.
For two units, set them side by side with a few feet between them. That gives each door room to swing and lets you mark one for men and one for women.
Tell the driver where you want the door. We set it that way on the first try.
What should I keep the porta potty away from?
Keep the porta potty away from septic tanks and leach fields, sprinkler heads, buried utility lines, roof drip lines and low spots that hold water. A loaded truck can crack a septic lid or crush a sprinkler line. Tell us where they are, and mark them with flags before delivery day.
Our driver asks about septic lines, sprinklers and buried utilities on every order. If you are not sure, a texted photo of the yard helps.
In winter, add plow piles and roof edges to the list. Our winter placement tips cover lake-effect snow.
Do I need a permit to put a porta potty on the street in Erie?
You usually need a permit to put a porta potty on a City of Erie street, sidewalk or curb lane. That space is public right-of-way, and the city typically requires a street-occupancy or obstruction permit. A unit on your own driveway, yard or lot usually needs no permit. Confirm with the City of Erie first.
Call the City of Erie Department of Public Works or Engineering, or start at the City of Erie website. Ask before you book, because a permit can take time.
Millcreek, Harborcreek, Fairview and the other townships set their own rules. Call the township office for a spot on a township road. See our Millcreek delivery page for local details.
When you can, keep the unit on private property. A spot at the top of the driveway is easier to permit, easier to service and safer from traffic.
What about HOAs, parks and Presque Isle?
Homeowners associations, public parks and Presque Isle State Park each have their own rules for a porta potty. Check your HOA covenants before a long project. For a park pavilion, ask the park office. Presque Isle is run by PA DCNR, and group events need park permission before anything is delivered.
Most HOAs care about long rentals more than a weekend party. A unit beside the garage, door facing away from the street, rarely draws a complaint.
For Presque Isle, contact the park office through the DCNR Presque Isle State Park page. Get approval in writing, then send us the spot the park assigns.
For any park drop the day before, ask for a free lock hasp. It keeps the public out until your event starts.
How do I show the driver where to put the porta potty?
Mark the porta potty spot with a cone, a flag or a chalk X, or text us a photo with the spot circled. You do not need to be home. The driver texts about 30 minutes before arrival, and sets the unit level with the door facing the way you asked.
Leave the gate unlocked or text the code. Move cars out of the way the night before, and note any low wires or branches over the drive.
If the marked spot will not work, the driver calls you before picking a new one. Nobody guesses.
Ready to book? See event porta potties for parties, or short-term rentals for a home project.
Porta potty placement questions
These porta potty placement questions cover moving the unit, gravel, smell, decks and gate width. Each answer starts with the short version. When your site is tricky, text Shawn a photo of the spot before you book, and he will tell you whether a unit fits there and what to change.
Can I move the porta potty myself after delivery?
Do not move a porta potty after delivery. With chemical in the tank it is heavy and top-heavy, and it can tip and spill. Call us and we will move it on the next trip.
Can it sit on gravel or a stone driveway?
Packed gravel is a good base. Loose stone can shift, so the driver may shim the corners. Either way it beats soft grass after rain.
Will it smell near the house?
A serviced porta potty with fresh deodorizer has little smell in the open air. Smell grows with heat and a full tank. Keep it a short walk from windows and keep service on schedule.
Can it go on a wooden deck?
Keep a porta potty off a wooden deck. Many decks are not built for a heavy, concentrated load, and the unit cannot be serviced there. A ground spot next to the deck stairs works better.
Will a porta potty fit through my backyard gate?
A standard unit is about 44 inches wide, so a 4-foot clear opening usually works. The path behind the gate must be firm and level, up to about 75 feet from the truck.
Get your itemized quote
Fastest way: call Shawn. You get the price, the delivery day and the total on one call.
(814) 245-2757Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Calls are answered in Erie, not a call center.
On a jobsite? Text the address and a photo of the spot to (814) 245-2757.
Prefer a form? Send it here. We reply within 1 business hour during open hours.