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Rising Sun adopts rules governing portable restroom units; residential permits limited to four per year
Summary
The town adopted an emergency ordinance regulating portable restroom units (PRUs), requiring permits, limiting residential placements in time and number, and giving the code officer removal authority for health or safety violations.
Rising Sun’s Mayor and Commissioners adopted an emergency amendment to the town’s property maintenance code on May 20 to regulate portable restroom units (PRUs), often called porta‑potties.
The ordinance adds a PRU definition and requires a permit for each placement. It restricts PRU use to properties under construction or renovation or for special events sponsored by the property owner. Permit durations differ by property type: commercial PRUs tied to construction projects may remain for up to 12 months (with extensions possible); residential PRUs used for construction or renovation are limited to six months. PRUs placed for special events must be removed within seven days.
Commissioners amended the adoption to limit residential PRU permits to no more than four placements per calendar year; after discussion the board agreed to the amendment and adopted the ordinance with that cap. The code officer is empowered to require immediate removal of any PRU that poses a public health or safety hazard, is filled to capacity, or violates the ordinance.
Next steps: the town clerk will publish the ordinance and staff will implement the permit process, including fee schedule updates and inspection/enforcement steps.
