What kind of restroom does a film set actually need?
Depends on the crew. A tight documentary team of six can run on one standard porta potty rental parked near base camp. A feature with 60 to 80 crew, plus talent trailers and a client tent, needs something closer to a 4 stall restroom trailer or 8 stall restroom trailer, with climate control and real sinks. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets the baseline most location managers use for planning: one toilet facility for 20 workers or fewer, then additional seats as headcount climbs past that. For talent and producers who want more than a standard unit, the deluxe flushable porta potty has a flush mechanism and a nicer interior, closer to what you would want parked next to a honeywagon. If your call sheet includes anyone with mobility needs, an ADA accessible porta potty has to be part of the layout, not an afterthought. Redwood City locations range from tight residential streets to open lots, and unit placement changes with the location. We also handle the extras: temporary fence rental to keep the set closed to lookie-loos, and a portable generator rental film setup or light tower rental if you're shooting nights. A handwashing station rental pairs with any restroom order and satisfies crews working near catering or makeup.
How much does restroom rental cost for a film shoot?
Film and event work usually books on a day or event rate rather than a month, since most shoots run one to a handful of days on a given lot.
| unit | day | week | event |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard | $100 - $350 | $130 - $500 | $200 - $800 |
| ada | $200 - $400 | $240 - $400 | -- |
| deluxe | $85 - $1,200 | $150 - $290 | -- |
| trailer | $175 - $2,500 | $1,650 - $2,500 | $2,499 - $3,899 |
A delivery fee, typically $100 to $500 for a day rental, applies on top of the unit price and covers the drive to your Redwood City location. Weekend production days run a flat premium instead of the daily rate, generally $125 to $400 for a standard unit or $900 to $3,000 for a trailer, depending on stall count and finish level. If you need exact numbers for your call sheet, the porta potty rental cost and restroom trailer rental cost pages break it down further, and the porta potty rental per day page is useful if you're pricing a single-day commercial shoot rather than a multi-week feature.
Do we need permits to place restrooms on a Redwood City set?
Placement in the public right of way, on a street or sidewalk near your location, needs confirming with the city before delivery day. We are not naming a specific permit rule here because it varies by block and by how much of the street your unit setup occupies. Loading zones, residential streets, and lots near San Carlos, 6.4 miles west, or Menlo Park, 6.0 miles southeast, can carry different requirements from a downtown Redwood City block. Our porta potty permit requirements page walks through what to check, and the porta potty placement guide covers ground clearance and access questions your location manager will ask anyway. A standard unit needs about 44 by 48 inches of ground space and stands roughly 92 inches tall, so tight alleys and parking structures need a site check before we commit to a spot. If your production books a roll-off dumpster rental for set strike, that placement question applies there too, and our dumpster permit requirements page covers it. Delivery trucks for a trailer or dumpster need about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the vehicle, which matters on narrow production streets.
How many restrooms does a 50 person crew need?
OSHA 1926.51(c) calls for one toilet facility per 20 workers, so a 50 person crew lands at three to four units minimum, plus one accessible unit under ADA Standards 213.2 if units are clustered. Add a handwash station regardless of crew size.
Can we get restrooms delivered same day for a last minute shoot?
Sometimes, depending on the day and what is already committed. Call ahead rather than assuming. Our emergency porta potty rental page covers what we can move fast and what needs more lead time.
Do you provide handwashing stations separate from the restrooms?
Yes. A standalone handwashing station rental works well near catering or makeup trailers. 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) requires soap and towels or a drying device at wash stations, not sanitizer alone.
What if the shoot runs over multiple days at different locations?
We can move units between locations on your schedule. Ask about our monthly porta potty rental rate if the production runs long enough to make sense against daily pricing.
Do you serve locations outside Redwood City proper?
Yes. We cover Foster City, 10.6 miles northwest, Palo Alto, 12.4 miles southeast, and Newark, 15.7 miles east, along with everything closer in. Check service areas for full coverage.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.