I recently bought a house with a septic tank for the very first time. I thought I was prepared, but I really had no idea what I was getting into. Shortly after we moved in, the septic tank backed up. I had to call for emergency septic services to have it pumped and taken care of. That's when I learned that I had overlooked some of the signs that the tank needed to be emptied. I created this site to share my experience and the tips that I learned along the way. My goal is to help others avoid the same septic problems that I have dealt with.
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Portable restroom rentals find use in a wide range of circumstances, from semi-permanent installations at beaches and parks to single-day rentals for short events. Since these rentals cover an essential hygienic need, hiring them for your own uses isn't a decision to take lightly. In some cases, there may be local or federal regulations to consider.
While your rental company should help you understand and meet these requirements, it never hurts to perform some research on your own. Below you'll find three common regulatory issues you may face when bringing portable restrooms onto your site.
1. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
ADA compliance is usually the most critical regulatory concern when renting portable toilets. As with permanent restrooms, you need to ensure your site offers adequate facilities for all visitors and employees, regardless of disability status. If your site must meet ADA requirements, you must have at least one ADA-compliant portable unit, even if it is the only unit on-site.
Whether your site requires more restrooms depends on the total number of units you will be renting. Five percent (or 1 in 20) of your portable toilets must meet ADA-compliance guidelines. Additionally, you must offer at least one ADA-compliant unit in each physical grouping of restrooms. Your ADA restrooms must also provide the same amenities as your standard restroom cubicles or trailer.
2. OSHA Compliance for Job Sites
If you are renting restrooms for use on a job site, you may also need to comply with OSHA guidelines. These guidelines stipulate that job sites must provide at least one toilet for every twenty employees on-site, or one toilet per fifty employees when servicing 200 or more workers. You must also provide at least one restroom, even if your job site has less than twenty employees.
To meet these guidelines, you must ensure that your site's toilets are accessible and remain in a sanitary condition. Toilets that become blocked by snow or inaccessible due to mud or other environmental conditions will likely cause workplace violations. Likewise, keeping the toilets sanitary requires you to schedule regular pumping and waste removal.
3. Local Permits
You will not need a specific permit to use portable restrooms in most jurisdictions, although your rental company will likely need licensing. In some cases, obtaining a job site or event permit may require you to prove that you have rented adequate restroom facilities. If you are in doubt about local requirements, rental companies that operate in your area should be able to answer any questions.
Meeting local and federal requirements for portable restrooms is rarely challenging, but keeping these issues in mind is crucial. Knowing your requirements will allow you to rent the appropriate number of restrooms for your needs while remaining in compliance with the law.
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