Our HOA says no porta potties visible from the street. Options?

Question

We're gutting our only bathroom for a four-month renovation, so we need a portable toilet on site. Our HOA rules say no porta potties visible from the street, which is a problem because our driveway is right out front. I'm thinking about putting a standard unit in the backyard instead. The ground is level grass, and there's a gate wide enough for a person but not a truck. The service truck would have to park in the alley behind our house, but the unit would be about 50 feet away with a fence in between. Can the vacuum truck still service a unit that far from the truck access point? Do I need to tell the rental company about the HOA rule upfront, or is a backyard placement common?

Priya N. · Answer

A vacuum truck can service a unit 50 feet away with a fence in between, but you must inform the rental company about the setup. The hose reaches that distance, but the operator needs to know about the fence and alley access to plan the service. Tell the rental company about the HOA rule upfront; backyard placements are common for residential projects, and they can advise on placement and access.

For a single-family renovation, one standard portable toilet is sufficient under OSHA rules for a small crew. Place it on level ground in the backyard. The service truck will need clear alley access on service days. Weekly service is standard, but inform the company if usage is heavy. The rental cost depends on the unit type, rental duration, service frequency, and delivery distance to the alley.

Our HOA says no porta potties visible from the street. Options?

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