Renting a porta potty for a home remodel in Bend
The contractor said "we will need a porta potty." Here is why, what it costs in time and space, and how to keep it from becoming the neighbors' problem.
Why does my contractor want a porta potty?
A contractor asks for a porta potty because OSHA requires a toilet for employees on a fixed jobsite, because your bathroom may be the one being demolished, and because a crew of four walking through the house eight times a day tracks dust and slows the job.
One standard unit on the driveway covers a crew of up to 20 workers for the whole remodel.
Homeowners who skip it either lend the crew a bathroom for six weeks or watch the crew leave the site to find one. Both cost more than the rental.
How long will I need it?
A kitchen remodel in Bend typically runs four to eight weeks of on-site work, a bathroom two to four weeks, and a whole-house remodel three to six months. Rentals bill in 28-day cycles that renew until you call for pickup, so a five-week kitchen is two cycles and a three-week bathroom is one.
The second cycle costs less because delivery is charged once.
Every 28-day rental includes a weekly service visit: pump the tank, pressure-wash and sanitize the interior, refill deodorizer, restock toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Where does it go on a Bend lot?
On most Bend lots the unit sits at the top of the driveway beside the garage, within 15 feet of the street for the service truck, facing away from the front door. On the west side, where driveways drop 10 to 15 percent, the unit goes at the street end or on a level landing.
Side yards work when the gate is at least 36 inches wide and the pad is within 15 feet of the truck.
- Keep it off the lawn in summer; irrigation softens the pad.
- Keep it out of the street: the City of Bend requires a right-of-way permit for anything in the road, bike lane or sidewalk.
- Keep it 10 feet from the neighbor's windows where the lot allows.
What about the HOA and the neighbors?
Most Bend HOA covenants allow a temporary portable toilet during permitted construction. NorthWest Crossing, Tetherow and Broken Top each require notice to the association and placement out of view from the street where possible. A clean unit serviced weekly with the door facing the house draws no complaints. An overflowing one does.
Weekly service is included on every cycle, and a gray unit blends better than blue.
For a remodel in a gated community, give dispatch the gate code and the HOA contact so delivery and service days are approved in advance.
What does it cost?
A standard unit on a 28-day cycle in Bend is $280 plus a one-time $60 delivery-and-pickup charge, with weekly service included; renewals are $280. Oregon has no sales tax. A deluxe unit with a sink is the usual upgrade when the house water is off during the work.
Questions people ask us before they book
We are doing a kitchen and dining room remodel starting Monday. Can you deliver Friday or Monday?
Either. Friday delivery means the crew has it at 7 AM Monday. Monday delivery goes on the first route, and the driver calls 20–30 minutes before arrival.
Does someone need to be home?
No. Mark the spot or email a photo; the driver photographs the placement and emails it back.
Can we extend if the remodel runs long?
The cycle renews on its own until you call for pickup. Nothing to re-book.
Will it smell next to the house?
Deodorizer and weekly service keep a one-crew unit odor-free. In July and August, afternoon shade placement helps; a second weekly service is available.
Our contractor says they will handle the porta potty. Should I let them?
Either works. Contractors with an account with us book it on their statement; homeowners who book it themselves control the pickup date and the placement.
Can the unit go in the garage?
No. Units need ventilation and the service hose has to reach the tank from outside. Beside the garage door is the usual spot.
Ready to book? Call and we check your address while you are on the line.
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