Begin with the path
An accessible portable restroom only does its job if the whole journey works: from accessible parking or a drop-off spot, over ground a wheelchair, walker or cane can manage, to open space at the door. A unit dropped on soft turf at the back of a field may meet the spec and still be useless to the person who needs it.
What federal rules say
Section 213.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design states that when portable toilets are grouped together in one place, a minimum of 5 percent of the units in every group, and at least one, have to be accessible and carry the International Symbol of Accessibility. A group of 20 therefore needs one or more accessible units; a group of 30 needs at least two, because 5 percent of 30 rounds up. On top of that federal floor, New York State and New York City keep their own building and accessibility codes, and permits, venues and funders can add conditions. Ask your permit office, the venue or an accessibility consultant what applies to you. None of this is legal advice, and we can quote whatever number you settle on.
Features inside
Accessible portable units usually have a wide door, a low or ramped entry, grab bars and enough floor space for a 60-inch turning circle, the clearance most often linked with accessible units. Models differ in features and measurements. Ask us what the quoted unit includes, and check it against the requirements of your venue or permit office.
Ground conditions around the state
- Works well: asphalt, concrete, packed stone dust and level paved walks.
- Causes trouble: loose driveway gravel, long grass, mulch, wood chips and rutted fields.
- Depends on the weather: a fairground lawn that is solid in July can go soft after a storm, and an upstate field in mud season may not carry a wheelchair at all.
- Winter: snow and ice make any route harder. Clear and treat the entire path, not only the doorway, and keep plowed snow off it. Our winter weather guide has more.
Creating a route where none exists
If there is no firm ground, ground-protection mats, roll-out walkways or temporary plywood can make a path, provided they are fastened down, flat and unbroken all the way to the door. Clear it with the venue or landowner first, especially in parks or on historic grounds. Also ask what the unit itself needs to sit on, because a unit on a tilted or spongy base is hard to use even when the path is flawless.
The door area
Keep cables, cones, bins, generators and parked carts away from the doorway so a wheelchair can pull straight up and the door can open fully. Check the grade up to the entry. On city sidewalks and plazas, watch for curb cuts, grates and tree pits along the way.
Distance from parking
Trace the trip from accessible parking and the drop-off area to the unit while imagining you are pushing a wheelchair. Does the surface stay unbroken? Do you hit a curb with no ramp, a step, a gravel patch or a puddle? If so, relocate the unit or repair the route. At big events, include accessible units in every group so no one has a long trek.
Siting checklist
- Near the accessible parking area and wherever the main activity is.
- On flat ground with no sideways tilt.
- With open turning room outside the door.
- On a path without cords, hoses or steps.
- Lit for evening programs and early winter dusk.
- Marked from the main walkways with high-contrast signs.
Sinks as well
If you offer handwashing, put at least one station usable from a seated position right by the accessible unit. Details are on our handwashing stations page.
Priorities by event type
- Festivals and street fairs: spread accessible units through the groups and along the footprint. See festival rentals.
- Weddings: picture older relatives on gravel walks and barn door sills; the wedding guide has more.
- Races and parades: place accessible units at the start, the finish and the main viewing spots.
- NYC street events: keep the sidewalk passable for every pedestrian, not only restroom users. See the street placement guide.
- Job sites and emergency sites: tell us about any accessibility need on the phone.
Where plans slip
- Booking the accessible unit, then parking it on grass far from the lot.
- Never checking the trip from the parking area.
- Letting vendors leave carts or coolers by the door.
- Leaving out signs, so the unit goes unfound.
- Assuming one unit covers it without checking group size and permit terms.
Morning-of check
Before the gates open, walk from the accessible parking spaces to the unit yourself. Look at the surface, signs, lights, door space and sink. Repeat after rain or snow.
Our accessible rentals page outlines what to expect. Phone us for a quote with your ground surface, attendance and layout, and we will plan it with you.
Reviewed November 5, 2026. General planning information only; it is not legal, engineering or regulatory advice.