Placement is the part of a rental most people skip until the truck shows up. It is also where most delivery problems start. Use this guide before you call, and the driver will set the unit in the right place the first time.
Where is the best place to put a porta potty?
The best place for a porta potty is level, firm ground within about 25 feet of where the truck can park. Good spots are a driveway edge, the side of the house near the trash cans, a gravel pad, or a flat corner of a jobsite. Keep 3 feet clear in front of the door.
Think about the people using it. Guests should reach it without walking through the kitchen. Workers should reach it without crossing a busy material lane. Avoid the front door, the garage door and spots right under bedroom windows.
- Parties: side yard, back corner of the driveway, or near the patio if the gate allows.
- Jobsites: near the entrance, out of the way of deliveries, with the service side facing the road.
- Parks and churches: near the pavilion or field, on a path a wheelchair can use.
- Ranches and land: near a firm road, not out in soft pasture.
How much space does a porta potty need?
A standard porta potty needs a level spot about 5 by 5 feet plus 3 feet clear on the door side. Our PolyJohn PJN3 is 43.5 inches wide, 47 inches deep and 91 inches tall. A wheelchair-accessible Comfort XL needs more room: its footprint is 62 by 62 inches.
| Unit | Model | Width × depth × height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard porta potty | PolyJohn PJN3 | 43.5" × 47" × 91" | ~175 lb empty |
| Deluxe flushing unit with sink | PolyJohn Fleet (FS3) | 47" × 47" × 91" | ~200 lb |
| Wheelchair-accessible unit | PolyJohn Comfort XL (PH03) | 62" × 62" × 91" | 240 lb |
| Hand-wash station | PolyJohn Bravo 2-station | about 35" × 26" × 55" | ~70 lb |
callers asked for the exact unit size so they could clear a spot. One needed about 11 feet of access to reach a backyard. Texting a photo of the spot settles it before the truck leaves the yard.
Source: 27 recorded porta potty rental calls reviewed by our office, 2026.Will a porta potty fit through my backyard gate?
A standard porta potty fits through a backyard gate that is at least 48 inches (4 feet) wide. The PolyJohn PJN3 is 43.5 inches wide, and two crew members need hand room to cart it. A wheelchair-accessible unit, 62 inches wide, usually needs a double gate or a driveway spot instead.
Measure the gate at its narrowest point, post to post, with the gate swung fully open. Check the path behind the gate too. A 48-inch gate does not help if an AC unit or a narrow side yard pinches the path down to 3 feet.
Our crew can hand-cart an empty unit about 25 feet from the truck. Past that, pick a closer spot. If the truck itself must drive through a gate to reach the yard, that gate needs to be about 10–11 feet wide.
What about low wires, trees and the truck path?
The porta potty truck needs a path about 10–11 feet wide with no wires or branches lower than 12 feet. Cable lines across a driveway are the most common problem. Tell dispatch about low wires, overhanging oaks, parked cars and narrow alleys when you book, so the driver plans the approach.
Walk the path from the street to your spot. Look up as well as down. Trim low branches a few days ahead, and move cars, trailers and boats off the route the night before delivery.
Can I put a porta potty on the sidewalk or in the street?
No. A porta potty cannot go on a public sidewalk or in the street without a right-of-way permit from the city. Sidewalk placement blocks walkers and wheelchair users. Choose a spot on your own property instead, such as a driveway edge, side yard or lawn. Keep 3 feet clear on the door side, a few feet back from the sidewalk.
If a curb spot is truly the only option, call your city first. For public events, the City of Denton wants restroom locations on the event site map. We cover that process in our guide to Denton event permits and portable restrooms.
Does my HOA have rules about porta potty placement?
Many HOAs have porta potty placement rules, especially in master-planned Denton communities like Robson Ranch and Rayzor Ranch. Common limits cover how many days a unit may sit out, whether it can face the street, and remodel hours. Ask your HOA at least 1 week before delivery day. Then mark the approved spot for the driver.
For a weekend party, an HOA may prefer a Saturday drop over a Thursday drop. We deliver Saturdays 7 am–7 pm, so that is easy to schedule. For a remodel, ask whether the unit must sit behind the front building line.
How do I show the driver where to put the porta potty?
Mark the porta potty spot with a cone, flag or sign, then text a photo of the spot to (940) 275-3799. For rural land without an address, send a Google Maps pin or GPS coordinates. Add gate codes and a backup spot. With those 3 things, nobody needs to be home.
- Take one wide photo from the street showing the path in.
- Take one close photo of the exact spot with the cone or flag in it.
- Text both to (940) 275-3799 with the order name.
- Add notes: gate code, dog in the yard, low wire, backup spot.
- Rural site? Drop a pin in Google Maps and text the link.
What ground works best for a porta potty in Denton County?
A porta potty works best on gravel, concrete, asphalt or firm grass. Denton County has two soil types. Sandy Cross Timbers soil west of I-35, near Argyle, Krum and Ponder, can bog a truck. Black Blackland Prairie clay east of Denton turns slick after rain. Pick high, firm ground on either side.
Spring brings high winds from March to June. On open lots and jobsites, ask us to stake or tie down the unit. In summer, a shady spot keeps the unit cooler; our Texas heat guide explains why.
Can the porta potty be moved after delivery?
A porta potty can be moved only while it is empty. A used porta potty cannot be moved or tipped until our truck pumps it. For jobsites and long rentals, keep the service side within about 25 feet of where the pump truck can park, so weekly service never stalls.
If a remodel crew needs the unit moved as the job changes, call dispatch. We reposition it on a service visit. For a full jobsite setup, see our construction site toilet rentals.