Where do restrooms go on a working set?
Location managers usually want two zones: one cluster near base camp for crew and talent, and a quiet satellite unit near the shooting area that a PA can flag off during rolling sound. Cicero Porta Pros handles both from one delivery, whether the shoot sits inside city limits or out toward Forest Park, 4.7 miles northwest, or Brookfield, 6.1 miles west. A roll-off delivery or restroom trailer needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, so tell us early if the lot has a tight turn or a loading dock in the way. We walk the location before drop day whenever the schedule allows it, checking ground stability and reach to the nearest access point, because the units need to sit level and stay put through a full shoot day. For crews that also need temporary fencing around a base camp or gear staging area, we quote that alongside the restrooms so the location manager gets one delivery instead of three. If the production needs portable sink rental or a handwashing station near catering, that goes on the same truck. Most Cicero shoots book a standard unit for background crew and one ADA accessible unit for talent and any crew member who needs it, matching the clustering rule under ADA Standards 213.2, which requires at least one accessible unit in any cluster of portable toilets, five percent minimum once the cluster gets larger.
What does a film set restroom rental cost?
A single-day shoot in Cicero typically runs on standard units billed by the day, with delivery handled as a separate line. Multi-week productions save by locking in a weekly or monthly rate instead of re-booking day by day, and a restroom trailer makes sense once the call sheet features department heads, showrunners or on-camera talent who won't use a standard unit.
| unit | day | week | month |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard | $100 - $350 | $130 - $500 | $125 - $325 |
| ada | $200 - $400 | $240 - $400 | - |
| deluxe | $85 - $1,200 | $150 - $290 | - |
| trailer | $175 - $2,500 | $1,650 - $2,500 | - |
Delivery runs $100 to $500 for a single day or $50 to $150 on a weekly booking, and a service visit mid-shoot lands between $100 and $300. See the full porta potty rental cost breakdown or the restroom trailer rental cost page if the production is weighing a trailer against a cluster of standard units. Short weekend shoots pull a flat weekend rate instead of stacking day rates, which usually costs less than booking three separate days.
Does the production need a generator for the restroom trailer?
A restroom trailer with interior lighting, a vent fan and a pump for fresh and gray water needs power, and most Cicero shoots already have a portable generator rental film crews use for lighting and camera village anyway. If the generator is dedicated to the trailer, a small unit covers it; if it is shared with grip and electric, ask your gaffer to size it before drop day so the trailer isn't fighting for amps during a take. We can also stage a temporary power pole if the location has a fixed shooting schedule of a week or longer and the production wants a hardwired feed instead of running a generator start to finish. Standard portable toilets need no power at all, which is one reason background-heavy days still lean on standard units even when a trailer is parked for the leads. If the set also needs a light tower for a night shoot, we quote it on the same order as the restrooms and trailer so the production coordinator gets a single invoice. Every restroom trailer we place includes soap and a hand-drying option at the sink per 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2), which does not consider hand sanitizer alone sufficient. For crews doing base camp buildouts near La Grange Park, 6.7 miles west, or Maywood, 6.8 miles northwest, the same generator and trailer pairing applies regardless of which side of Cicero the unit trailer parks on.
How many restrooms does a 40 person crew need?
OSHA 1926.51(c) sets one toilet facility per 20 workers on a job site, so a 40 person crew needs at least two, plus one accessible unit under ADA 213.2. Most productions round up and add a third for wardrobe and background holding. See how many porta potties do I need for the full breakdown by headcount.
Can restrooms be moved between locations during a multi-day shoot?
Yes, if the schedule is set in advance. Cicero Porta Pros can pull units from a wrapped location and reset them at the next call sheet address, usually same day, as long as the new site has the same 60 feet of clearance for the truck.
Do you provide restrooms for night shoots?
Yes. Units get delivered ahead of crew call regardless of shoot time, and a light tower can run alongside the restroom trailer for the whole overnight block. Ask about pairing a light tower rental with the trailer order.
What if the shoot runs long and we need units past the booked date?
Call ahead of the original pickup date and we will extend the rental. Extending a standing rental is simpler than re-booking, and weekly or monthly rates already sit lower per day than repeated single-day bookings.
Is a standard unit or a restroom trailer better for a small crew?
For crews under 15 with no on-camera talent, a standard unit or deluxe flushable unit usually covers it. Once department heads or actors are on set daily, a trailer with running water and climate control is worth the added cost.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.