Committee to review rules for contractors’ portable restrooms after reports of units left on sidewalks

The Public Safety Committee on Sept. 17 opened a scoping discussion on regulations for portable restrooms used by construction crews, prompted by multiple reports of units left on sidewalks or placed far from active work areas.

Council member Carissa Dutton described two incidents that prompted the referral: a unit moved down the sidewalk after work concluded in the Miller and Garland Road area, and a second example on Buckingham near Jupiter and Shiloh where two portable restrooms were placed roughly 200 feet apart and far from the actual, minor construction activity. “If my car can't block a sidewalk, your porta potty also cannot block the sidewalk, in my opinion,” Dutton said.

Public works and engineering staff said portable restrooms for CIP projects are typically located on project plans created by the engineer of record and placed to be in “close proximity of areas where people are working.” Staff acknowledged the public concerns about sight lines and odor and said service schedules are usually determined by the rental companies; some contractors purchase their own units and those may be serviced less frequently.

Staff noted the relevant guidance comes from project-specific stormwater pollution prevention plan standard details that address sanitary facilities. The committee asked staff to contact rental companies to determine typical service cycles and to consider minimum servicing intervals or contract language requiring timely removal after work completion.

Committee members agreed staff should return with suggested revisions in November. No new regulations or contract changes were adopted at the meeting; the discussion was recorded as scoping and staff-direction only.