How many units do you actually need?
Start with the crowd, not the calendar. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets the baseline for construction sites: one toilet for 20 workers or fewer, then one toilet and one urinal per 40 workers as the crew grows past 20, and one per 50 once you hit 200 or more. Events run differently, since foot traffic and bar lines change the math fast; our how many porta potties do I need guide walks through both scenarios. If you are running an agricultural crew instead of a job site, OSHA 1928.110 applies instead, calling for one facility per 20 hand-labor employees within a quarter mile walk. Once you have a number, decide on unit type. A standard porta potty covers most job sites. A deluxe flushable unit fits weddings and corporate events better. Fort Lauderdale sites near the beach or downtown often mix in one ADA accessible unit even for smaller crews, since guests and inspectors both notice when there is not one.
Where should the unit go?
Placement decides whether service day goes smoothly or turns into a mess. A standard unit measures about 44 by 48 inches on the ground and stands roughly 92 inches tall, so give it flat, stable ground with a few feet of clearance on all sides. ADA Standards 302.1 requires the surface under and around an accessible unit be stable, firm and slip resistant, which rules out loose gravel or soft turf for that unit. If you're placing more than one single-user unit in a cluster, ADA Standards 213.2 requires at least 5 percent be accessible, and never fewer than one. Keep the route to any unit at least 36 inches wide per ADA Standards 403.5.1, and make sure the service truck has a straight path in, since our drivers need it for the pump hose regardless of whether it's a toilet or a roll-off dumpster sharing the same site. Avoid slopes, avoid areas that flood when it rains, and keep units away from windows and foot doors when possible.
Do you need to confirm anything with the city first?
Placement in the public right of way in Fort Lauderdale needs confirming with the city before delivery day, so check that before you lock in a spot on a curb, sidewalk or street shoulder. This matters more than people expect, because a unit set on private property behind a fence line rarely needs the same check as one sitting on a public strip in front of a job site. If your project also involves a temporary fence or a storage container taking up curb space, ask about all of it at once rather than separately. Our porta potty permit requirements page covers what to ask and who to ask it of. For dumpsters specifically, dumpster permit requirements is a separate conversation with its own rules, so do not assume one covers the other. Confirming early saves a rescheduled delivery, and a rescheduled delivery on a tight event day in Fort Lauderdale is the kind of problem nobody wants two days out from a wedding or a race.
What else belongs on the checklist?
Service frequency, handwashing, and duration round out the list. ANSI/PSAI Z4.3 sets the baseline service interval at once a week for up to 10 users over a 40 hour week, so a busy job site or multi-day festival needs more frequent visits than that baseline. Pair every toilet cluster with a handwashing station or portable sink; under 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2), washing facilities need soap and towels or a hand-drying device, and hand sanitizer alone does not satisfy that. If your crew is applying paint, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) requires washing facilities on top of that, a detail people often miss until an inspector points it out. Decide your rental length early too: day, weekend, week and month rates differ enough that guessing costs money.
| Unit | Day | Week | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 - $350 | $130 - $500 | $125 - $325 |
| ADA | $200 - $400 | $240 - $500 | - |
| Deluxe | $85 - $1,200 | $150 - $290 | - |
Weekend rates for a standard unit run about $125 to $400, which covers most Saturday events without a full week's commitment. For longer builds, check monthly porta potty rental or porta potty rental per day before you commit to a duration that does not fit the job.
How far in advance should I book a porta potty?
Book a week out for a standard job site unit and two to three weeks out for weekend events, especially anything downtown or near the water. Fort Lauderdale fills up fast around big weekends, and event restroom rental requests spike closer to the date than most people expect.
Do I need an ADA unit even for a small event?
If you are clustering multiple single-user units, yes: ADA Standards 213.2 requires at least one accessible unit regardless of cluster size. A 20-person backyard party with one toilet does not trigger it, but three units in a row does.
What is the difference between a standard and deluxe unit?
A standard unit has a 60 to 70 gallon holding tank and no plumbing beyond that. A deluxe flushable unit adds a flush mechanism and often a sink, better suited to weddings than job sites.
Can I place a unit on the street in front of my house?
Maybe, but confirm with the city first since right-of-way placement in Fort Lauderdale needs that check. Placing it inside your property line usually avoids the question entirely.
How often does the unit get serviced?
Weekly is the baseline under ANSI/PSAI Z4.3 for up to 10 users. High-traffic events or job sites with big crews need more frequent visits, which we can schedule around your timeline.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.