Porta Potty Placement on Sand, Marsh and Lowcountry Ground

Firm, level ground within about 25 ft of where the service truck can park works best for porta potty placement. Packed dirt, gravel, short grass and pavement all hold a unit steady. Soft pluff mud, loose dune sand and steep slopes cause tipping, sinking and service trouble, so pick the firmest flat patch on the lot.

Truck reach

About 25 ft from the truck

Gate width

48 in minimum for a standard unit

Standard footprint

About 44 in W × 48 in D

ADA footprint

About 87 in square

A porta potty can go near the marsh edge only on firm ground above the king-tide line. Pluff mud looks solid at low tide but gives way under a unit and a truck. Set the porta potty on the high side of the lot near the house or road. Keep the unit off any spot that floods.

Sandy island lots need a flat spot with packed sand or a hard base, because loose sand lets a porta potty lean as people step in. A patio paver, plywood pad or gravel driveway edge keeps the unit level. Our truck also needs packed ground to park, so avoid soft dune sand for the truck path.

On beach-side lots, set the door away from the ocean breeze. Blowing sand inside a unit makes cleaning slower and wears the latch.

Placing a porta potty under a live oak is fine when the ground is flat and the truck can still reach the unit. Big surface roots make the base rock, so pick a spot between roots, not on top of them. Watch low limbs too; the service truck and hose need clear space overhead.

• Set the base on flat soil between roots.
• Keep the door clear of Spanish moss and low branches.
• Leave room for the truck to park outside the drip line if the yard is soft.
• Do not block a tree protection fence on a jobsite.

A spot behind a gate works when the gate opens at least 48 inches, since a standard unit is about 44 inches wide. ADA units, at about 87 inches square, and restroom trailers need full truck access. A gentle slope is fine, but a steep slope tips the unit, so the driver will move the porta potty to flatter ground.

Mark the porta potty spot with a cone, flag, ribbon or a note on a stake, and nobody has to be home for delivery. Text dispatch a photo with the mark in view. Our driver calls about 30 minutes ahead, and a clear mark keeps the unit from landing in the wrong corner of the lot.

1. Pick the spotFirm, flat and within about 25 ft of where the truck parks.
2. Mark the spotCone, flag or bright ribbon tied low.
3. Open the wayUnlock gates and move cars from the truck path.
4. Send a photoText the marked spot to dispatch with your address.

The porta potty door should face the path people walk, away from the street and away from strong wind. On a jobsite, face the door toward the work area. At a home party, face the door toward the yard, not the neighbor's window. Leave about 3 feet clear in front of the door for easy entry.