Porta Potties for Festivals and Large Events
Short answer
Count the people on site at your busiest time, not total attendance, and how long they stay. Spread units in several smaller groups near where people gather, with an accessible unit in each group (the 2010 ADA Standards require at least 5 percent, and no fewer than one), and handwashing stations at each group and near food.
At a large event, restrooms can go wrong in two ways. There aren't enough of them, or there are enough but they're all in one corner, so half the crowd walks five minutes and the other half never finds them.
This guide covers both: how to count for a big crowd, how to lay units out across the site, and how to keep them usable when thousands of people are coming through.
How do you count for a large event?
For a big event, don't count total attendance across the whole day. Count how many people will be on site at the busiest time, and how long they'll stay.
A festival that sees 3,000 people over a day but never has more than 1,200 on site at once should be planned around 1,200, adjusted for how long those people stay and whether there's alcohol. The one-unit-per-50-guests-for-four-hours figure is still the starting point.
Where should the units go?
A single large bank of units makes one long line. Several smaller groups near where people gather work better. Common spots:
- Near the entrance, for people arriving after a drive.
- Near food and drink, which is where demand is heaviest.
- Near the stage or main attraction, a short walk from where people are standing.
- Near camping or parking areas, for events that have them.
How many accessible units do you need?
The 2010 ADA Standards say that where portable toilets are grouped together, at least 5 percent of them, and no fewer than one, need to be accessible. That means an accessible unit at each group, not all of them in one place.
Each accessible unit also needs a firm, level route to reach it. Your event permit may set specific numbers, so check its conditions.
Where should handwashing stations go?
Put handwashing stations at each restroom group and near the food. If there are food vendors, check your county's temporary food event rules. They usually require handwashing near food service, and vendors may need their own.
How do you keep units usable all day?
At a busy all-day event, units can fill up before closing time. Plan for it:
- Ask about servicing during the event for very large or long events.
- For multi-day events, schedule service overnight or before gates open.
- Have someone on your team check the units and restock paper during the day.
- Keep a clear route for the service truck behind or beside each group.
Do large events need a permit?
Most large public events need a permit, and the permit often includes restroom and accessibility requirements. Read the conditions before you finalize your order.
Delivery and pickup windows for events are often tight, especially on closed streets. Agree on them early, and book as far ahead as you can for spring and fall weekends.
Sources: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Quick answers
How many porta potties for 1,000 people?
Should all the porta potties be in one place?
Ready to get a quote?
Tell us your dates, the address and roughly how many people.