Plain answers about portable restrooms in New York

If food is served at a permitted street event, the city's event guide says sponsors must provide portable chemical toilets and hand-washing sinks. For a gathering without food, ask the Street Activity Permit Office or NYC Parks what applies to your event.

The Street Activity Permit Office, at 100 Gold Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038. Permitting is overseen by the Mayor's Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management, which publishes a Comprehensive Event Permitting Guide. The toilet provider does not issue permits.

The sources behind this site found no New York rule giving units per attendee, so none is stated here. A provider can suggest a number from crowd size, duration and food service, and the permit office can say if it expects a particular figure.

The sponsor submits a vendor list to the health department at least 30 days ahead, and each food unit needs a Temporary Food Service Establishment permit. NYC Health Code Article 88 calls for toilets and hand-wash sinks at those events, so say that on the call.

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51, one toilet for 20 or fewer workers, then one seat and one urinal per 40 workers for 20 or more, and per 50 for 200 or more. Toilets in unsanitary condition do not count toward those minimums, so servicing matters.

It can. New York State Industrial Code Rule 23-1.9 sets limits on distance and height from a worker to a toilet, no more than 500 feet of travel on the same level and never over 1,000 feet. Put units where workers can actually reach them.

Yes, film and TV shoots are a regular use. Say how many days, what the location is and whether the crew parks and works in one spot, and the provider will say what it can place. Permit rules for a location come from the city, not from the line.

Often. Listings show lower weekly figures for 28-day rentals than for single weeks, but your provider sets the price. Ask what servicing frequency is built in and what happens if the job runs longer than planned.