City right-of-way: permit needed for a porta potty on the sidewalk in November?

Most cities treat a porta potty on the sidewalk as a temporary obstruction in the right-of-way, so you generally need a city permit before it sits there for three weeks.

There is no federal OSHA or ADA form that issues that permit. It comes from local public works or the transportation desk that manages sidewalk and curb space. Portland and plenty of other cities want an encroachment or temporary right-of-way approval when a standard unit stays on city sidewalk more than a day or two. Call them with the address, the three-week duration, and where the vacuum truck can pull to the curb for service.

ADA shows up on the path of travel. If that sidewalk is the accessible route along the block, parking a unit on it can wipe out clear width for wheelchair users unless the city already closed the walk for the repair and set a posted detour. Ask whether they want the unit on the closed section of walk, on the street side of the work zone, or on private property instead. Keep the door approach on level ground so the threshold stays firm.

Get the written permit before delivery. Crews that skip it get a move-order mid-job and a wasted service stop.