Construction Site Portable Toilets in Chicago

What does Chicago's plumbing code say about site toilets?

Chicago's plumbing code says no one may start construction, alteration or repair of a building without sufficient toilet facilities for employees, at least one per 30 employees or fraction. Non-sewer facilities must be kept sanitary and serviced, and at least 5 feet from property lines on private property.

The code lists water closets, chemical closets, privies and approved incinerators as the facilities that count. For most sites, that means chemical closets, the portable units a provider supplies. In multi-story buildings, no floor may be more than four stories from a story with toilet facilities.

That is all this site states about the code. For the longer comparison with OSHA and a worked example, see the guide on construction site toilet requirements in Chicago. For anything specific to your permit, ask the permit office.

• At least one toilet per 30 employees or fraction of 30
• Facilities kept sanitary and serviced
• Non-sewer facilities at least 5 feet from property lines on private property
• No floor more than four stories from a story with toilet facilities

How does OSHA's count compare with the city's?

OSHA's 29 CFR 1926.51(c) sets one toilet for 20 or fewer workers. Above 20, it sets one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers, and per 50 at 200 or more. Toilets must be reachable in under 10 minutes, and unsanitary toilets do not count.

The city counts employees and sets one toilet per 30 or fraction. OSHA counts workers and uses a different ladder. For a crew of 31 employees, the city's wording of 30 or fraction points to two toilets. OSHA's ladder for the same crew is worded differently, and the stricter result governs.

Do not average the two. Work out each count for your peak crew, take the higher result and confirm it with the project's permit office. If your safety lead or site superintendent has a reading of OSHA's text, follow theirs.

Where do units go on a tight Chicago lot?

Units go at least 5 feet from property lines on private property, within reach of the crew and where a servicing truck can get to them. On a dense block, access is the constraint: alley width, curb space and street permits all decide where a truck can stop.

Chicago's Near North Side is the most densely populated community area and has the second most skyscrapers after the Loop. On blocks that dense, where a unit can physically stand is a real question, and street or sidewalk space has its own rules. Your permit office or the provider can explain what applies.

The page on delivery and pickup covers the access questions in more detail. Settle them before the first delivery, since a unit that cannot be reached cannot be serviced.

What changes on a Chicago winter site?

Winter makes crews colder, slows delivery and raises freezing questions. January averages about 25.2 F and wind chill can fall far lower. No local rule on file covers winter handling, so ask the provider what it does for cold, and keep the path to the units cleared.

Lake wind sweeps the flat city, and an open site feels it. Workers will walk farther to a unit they can reach without crossing ice, so placement and a clear path matter more in winter.

For the questions to ask, see cold-weather portable toilets. Tell the provider about the winter months when you first call, not when the first hard freeze arrives.