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Should I lock the jobsite porta potty overnight?

Brad L.asked 1 viewConstruction & Job SitesConstruction siteOvernightVandalismStandard unitJob siteSecurity

We're two weeks into a residential framing job with a standard unit on the gravel pad next to the driveway. Crew leaves around 4pm and the lot sits empty until morning. Someone on the crew suggested padlocking the door so people walking the street do not use it or trash it overnight.

Is locking a rented porta potty overnight a normal thing on construction sites, or do rental companies hate that because it blocks a late service visit? The contract does not mention a lock either way. We have had zero vandalism so far, but the unit is visible from the sidewalk and I would rather not find it wrecked on a Monday. What do GCs usually do?

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Carl D.Oklahoma City, OK

Most residential framing crews I know lock the unit overnight when the lot sits empty. An open standard unit on a driveway pad is an invitation for after-hours use and trash, and a Monday morning mess costs the crew more time than a padlock ever does.

Tell the rental company before you lock it. A late or early service visit fails if the door is locked and nobody left a key or combo. Put the combination in the delivery notes or text it to the driver the day before service. Do not drill new holes or screw hardware into the plastic. Use the existing hasp if the door has one, or a cable lock that goes through the latch without chewing up the frame.

If your contract is silent, ask once in writing so you are covered. On quiet cul-de-sacs some GCs skip the lock. On busy sidewalks I lock every night and unlock when the first guy arrives. That mix has kept our units intact without blocking weekly service.

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