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Bathroom remodel with one bath in the house: where do you put the driveway porta potty? ✓ Solved

Jake W.asked 47 viewsHome Renovations & Long-termBathroom remodelDrivewayHomeMonthly rentalServicingStandard unit

Accepted answer

Place the standard unit on your driveway where the service truck can park within 25 feet of it. The vacuum truck hose reaches that far, so you can set it near your garage apron or along the side yard as long as the ground is level and the path is clear every service day. Read the full answer

We're tearing out our only bathroom for a full remodel and the contractor says we'll be without a working toilet for about six weeks. Looking at putting a standard unit on the driveway so the crew and my family can use it.

A few practical questions. How far off the street does the unit usually need to sit so the vacuum truck can still reach it for weekly service? Is the apron in front of the garage fine if it's mostly level, or do people put it along the side yard instead? Also wondering whether neighbors tend to complain about a unit that sits that long, and if there's anything we should ask for in the rental agreement beyond weekly pumping and paper restock.

First time renting for a home job, so tips from anyone who has done a bathroom remodel with a driveway unit would help.

2 answers

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✓ Accepted by Jake W.

Sam O.Portland, OR

Place the standard unit on your driveway where the service truck can park within 25 feet of it. The vacuum truck hose reaches that far, so you can set it near your garage apron or along the side yard as long as the ground is level and the path is clear every service day.

Your driveway apron is a common spot if it's flat. Just make sure the unit is staked down and not blocking your garage door. For a six-week rental, most neighbors won't mind, but a quick heads-up is polite.

Beyond weekly pumping and paper, ask the rental company for a formaldehyde-free deodorizer and confirm the service frequency. If your family and crew use it heavily, you might need service twice a week. Check the contract for details on missed service charges if the truck can't access the unit.

  • Marcus B. Check the city rules for driveway placement. Some cities require a permit if the unit touches the public right-of-way, like a sidewalk or parkway. The rental company should know the local codes.
3
Ashley M.Boise, ID

The garage apron works fine for a six-week remodel if the truck can park close and the pad stays mostly level.

We ran the same setup when our only bath came out. Put the standard unit on the apron with the door facing the house so it is not staring at the street, and leave a clear lane for service day. If the apron has a crown or a soft edge, a couple of boards under the skids keep the door from swinging shut on its own.

Side yard only wins when the driveway is too tight for family cars plus the unit. Neighbors mostly complained when the door faced their kitchen window or when weekly service slipped and odor built up. A heads-up text before drop-off did more good than any screen we tried.

In the rental paperwork, lock in the service day, what happens if the truck finds the path blocked, and that paper and deodorizer are included. For family plus crew, ask up front whether you can bump to twice a week without rewriting the whole order.

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