If your event or job site is open to the public, the Americans with Disabilities Act sets the floor for accessible restrooms. The rule most people need: at least 5 percent of your portable toilets, and at least one per cluster, must be ADA accessible. Those units are bigger, sit at ground level, and have the room and grab bars a wheelchair user needs.
Below is what that means in practice. If you would rather just get it right without reading the fine print, call Bubba at 801-230-5045 and we will spec it for you.
What ADA compliance means for portable toilets
The ADA became law in 1990 to give people with disabilities equal access to public spaces, restrooms included. For portable toilets, that means a rental setup has to include accessible units, not just standard ones, anywhere the public can show up. It is about making sure every guest or worker can use the restroom with dignity, not as an afterthought.
How many ADA units do you need? The 5 percent rule
- At least 5 percent of your total units must be ADA accessible.
- Never fewer than one, and at least one per cluster of toilets.
So 10 standard units means 1 accessible unit. A larger public event with 40 units means at least 2, spread so an accessible option is always nearby. Our porta potty calculator sizes this for you, and for public events it builds the ADA unit in automatically.
What makes a portable toilet ADA compliant
An accessible unit is not just a roomier stall. To meet the standard it needs:
- Ground-level entry on level ground. No step up, set on a flat, firm surface.
- A 60 by 60 inch interior so a wheelchair has room to turn.
- A wide, outward-opening door (about 32 inches clear) for easy entry and exit.
- Grab bars mounted to take real weight and help with balance and transfers.
- A toilet seat at roughly 17 to 19 inches high so transferring from a wheelchair is comfortable.
- An accessible hand washing or sanitizer station a seated user can actually reach.
Where to put the accessible units
Placement is part of compliance. Accessible units have to sit on flat, level ground with a clear, firm path to the door, no steep ramps, gravel ruts, or curbs in the way. Keep them near the rest of the restrooms, not banished to a far corner, so an accessible option is always close to where people are.
Why getting it right is worth it
- Inclusivity. Every guest and every worker gets the same access. That is the whole point.
- Legal protection. Skipping accessible units can mean fines and complaints. Meeting the standard takes that risk off the table.
- Reputation. People notice when an event is set up thoughtfully. Accessible facilities say you planned for everyone.
How Bubs handles it
We include ADA accessible portable toilets in our lineup and make sure your setup meets the 5 percent rule before anything goes out. Tell us your headcount and whether the event is open to the public, and we will spec the right mix of standard and accessible units, place them correctly, and keep them serviced the whole rental. Serving the Wasatch Front and Back across six counties.
Call or text Bubba at 801-230-5045, or book online at bubsdisposal.com.
Frequently asked questions
How many ADA portable toilets do I need?
At least 5 percent of your total units, and never fewer than one, with at least one accessible unit per cluster. For 20 standard units, that is one ADA unit.
What makes a porta potty ADA compliant?
Ground-level entry on level ground, a 60 by 60 inch interior, a wide outward-opening door, grab bars, a seat around 17 to 19 inches high, and a reachable hand washing station.
Do private events need ADA portable toilets?
Public events do. For a private event the accessible unit is strongly recommended, and required if anyone attending needs one. When in doubt, add one.
Where should ADA units be placed?
On flat, level, firm ground with a clear path to the door, and close to the rest of the restrooms.
Get your number, ADA included
Put in your headcount and the calculator gives you a starting range. For public events it builds the accessible unit in automatically, so the 5 percent rule is covered from the first number.
How many do you need?
The lineup.
This is everything we can drop off. Not sure what the job needs? Text a photo of the site to 801-230-5045 and we will tell you straight.
