Owner-run in Erie, PA. No call center, no broker.
Festival porta potty rental in Erie, PA for fairs, races and concerts
Festival porta potty rental in Erie for street festivals, county fairs, races and outdoor concerts. Shawn plans the count, sets units in clusters, and schedules pump-outs so the evening crowd finds them clean.
- Your location
- Fairs, streets, parks and race courses across Erie County and nearby counties.
- Arrival
- Large orders set Thursday or Friday, so the layout is checked before gates open.
- Which unit
- Clusters of standard units, 5% or more wheelchair-accessible, with handwashing stations.
- Cleaning
- Pump-outs or an attendant scheduled during the event, between sessions or overnight.
- Full cost
- Standard units from $165 for up to 4 days, $45 per service visit, 10% off 3+ units.
How many porta potties does a festival need?
A festival needs 1 porta potty per 50 people for the first 4 hours, plus 1 per 100 people when it runs longer, plus 1 per 100 when alcohol is served. A 500-person, 6-hour festival with a beer tent needs 20 units. Serving food adds 1 handwashing station for every 2 units.
| Peak attendance | Total units | Handwashing stations | Suggested clusters | Wheelchair-accessible units (in the total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| 500 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 1,000 | 40 | 20 | 4 | 4 |
| 2,000 | 80 | 40 | 4 | 4 |
Counts assume a 6-hour event with food and alcohol, using our sizing method. Shorter or dry events need fewer. Run your numbers with the porta potty calculator.
Races and fun runs
A 5K is short, but nearly every runner wants a restroom in the 30 minutes before the start. Size at 1 unit per 50 runners and put most of them near the start line, not the finish. A few units at the finish cover spectators.
Planning a fair, race or concert?
Send the attendance, hours and site map. Shawn plans the clusters and the service schedule with you.
Why does every cluster need a wheelchair-accessible unit?
The 2010 ADA Standards, section 213.2, require at least 5% of portable toilets in each cluster to be accessible where toilets are provided. A cluster of 10 needs 1 accessible unit. A cluster of 30 needs 2. Our rule is at least 1 wheelchair-accessible unit in every cluster, however small the cluster is.
Read the rule itself on the U.S. Access Board site. Our wheelchair-accessible units have a ground-level entry, grab bars and a 60-inch turning space, built to the 2010 ADA turning-space dimensions per the manufacturer.
Each accessible unit needs a flat, firm spot about 8 by 8 feet. Put it at the end of the row nearest the path, not behind the other units.
Can units be serviced during a multi-day festival?
Units at a multi-day festival can be pumped, cleaned and restocked between sessions or overnight. Each extra service visit is $45 per unit. Busy single-day events can book a pump-out at midday. Shawn sets the visit times with you before the event, so the truck is not driving through the crowd at peak.
A standard unit holds about 200 uses between services. At a beer tent that can go fast, so plan service by use, not by the clock. Handwashing stations get refilled with water, soap and towels on the same visit.
Keep a lane open from the gate to each cluster for the service truck. Tell us the access time and who holds the gate key. Sunday service on a weekend festival must be planned ahead, so ask when you book.
Where should festival restrooms be placed?
Festival restrooms work best in clusters near the main gate, the food area and the stage, about a short walk from each. Spread clusters out so no single row carries the whole crowd. Each cluster needs firm, level ground, a handwashing station at the end and a clear lane for the service truck.
- Keep clusters downwind of the food vendors and out of the stage sightline.
- Light clusters for concerts that run past dark.
- Stake or anchor units at windy lakefront sites such as the Bayfront or Presque Isle.
- Lock units with a free hasp the night before if the grounds are open to the public.
Need a nicer option for a VIP tent? A restroom trailer fits there, with power and water.
Do you need a permit for festival restrooms in Erie?
Festival restrooms on a street, sidewalk or curb lane sit in the public right-of-way, and the City of Erie usually requires a permit for that. Events in a township, a county park or a state park follow that owner's rules. Confirm the permit with the right office before you book the units.
- City of Erie streets and sidewalks: Department of Public Works or Engineering.
- Townships such as Millcreek or Harborcreek: the township office.
- Erie County property: the county office that runs the site.
- Presque Isle State Park: PA DCNR, through the park office.
Shawn can tell you where units fit on the site plan, but the permit stays with the event organizer.
What does festival restroom rental cost?
Festival restroom rental uses event pricing: standard units from $165, wheelchair-accessible units from $225 and handwashing stations from $115, each for up to 4 days. Service visits during the event are $45 per unit. Orders with 3 or more units take 10% off the units. Delivery and pickup is one charge per order.
| Line | Quantity | At starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard units | 18 at $165 | $2,970 |
| Wheelchair-accessible units | 2 at $225 | $450 |
| Handwashing stations | 10 at $115 | $1,150 |
| Subtotal before discount | 30 items | $4,570 |
Add delivery and pickup, any service visits and 6% PA sales tax. The 10% multi-unit discount comes off the units. Tax-exempt organizers send a certificate and pay no sales tax. See the full price guide.
Festival and large event questions
These festival questions cover what organizers need settled before the gates open: delivery days, locking units, how attendants work, booking lead time and nonprofit billing. Each answer starts with the fact. For smaller gatherings, the party page covers backyard sizing and Friday drop-off in more detail.
When do you set up for a Saturday fair?
Large orders are usually set on Thursday or Friday, so the layout can be checked before opening. Pickup is the next business day after the event. There is no charge for the extra days within the 4-day event window.
Can someone stay on-site to keep the units clean?
An on-site attendant or scheduled pump-outs can be arranged for festivals. Tell Shawn the hours and expected crowd, and you get a service plan and price with the quote.
How early should we book for a summer festival weekend?
Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for July 4th and fall festival weekends, and earlier for large orders. Big counts take more trucks, so an early call keeps your date open.
We're a nonprofit. Do we pay sales tax?
Tax-exempt organizations pay no sales tax once we have the exemption certificate on file. Send it with your booking. Business and nonprofit accounts can be invoiced on net-15 terms after a first paid rental.
Do we need handwashing stations if vendors bring their own?
Vendor sinks are for food workers. Guests still need a place to wash after using the restroom. Plan 1 handwashing station for every 2 units at each cluster.
What if the crowd is bigger than we planned?
Call Shawn as soon as you see ticket numbers climb. Adding units before the event is easy. During a multi-day event an extra pump-out at $45 per unit is the fastest fix.
Get your festival restroom plan
Send the site map, dates and expected crowd. Shawn returns a cluster layout, a service schedule and one itemized total.
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.
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