Film Set Restroom Rental in St. Louis, MO

Film productions in St. Louis need portable restrooms that keep a schedule, not slow it down. A standard porta potty rental runs $100 to $350 a day depending on quantity, and most crews add a deluxe flushable porta potty or two for cast and department heads.

How many restrooms does a film crew need?

Crew size and shoot length drive the count more than anything else. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets the baseline for construction-type crews: one toilet for 20 workers or fewer, then one toilet and one urinal per 40 workers as the crew grows past that. A location crew of 30 in St. Louis city, working a 12 hour day, typically lands on two to three units once you factor in a deluxe flushable porta potty for talent and one ADA accessible porta potty for accessibility. Under ADA Standards section 213.2, when single-user units are clustered on a lot, at least 5 percent must be accessible, and never fewer than one. That rule applies whether you are parked in a studio lot or on a residential street doubling as a period set. Producers running multi-day shoots often use the porta potty rental checklist to lock unit counts before the location scout signs off, and it is worth cross-checking against how many porta potties do i need since crew, background, and craft services all use the restrooms differently than a construction site would.

What restroom options work for a film set in St. Louis?

Standard units cover background and crew, but principal cast and producers usually want something quieter and cleaner near base camp. A luxury restroom trailer or a smaller 2 stall restroom trailer gives you climate control and real sinks, which matters on a night shoot in a St. Louis winter. Trailers rent in the $175 to $2,500 range per day depending on size and finish, with weekend rates running $900 to $3,000 for the larger trailers. If the shoot needs handwashing separate from the restrooms, most set medics ask for a handwashing station rental or a portable sink rental positioned near craft services, since 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) requires soap and towels or a hand drying device at wash stations, not just sanitizer. Locations near University City, about 7.9 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis, and Webster Groves, 8.6 miles southwest, book the same trailer stock we deliver into the city, so lead time matters more than distance. For overnight base camps we also see requests bundled with a portable generator rental film setup, since restroom trailers with pumps and lighting need power the same way the grip truck does.

Where should restrooms go on a St. Louis film location?

Placement depends on ground access and how far cast and crew have to walk. ADA Standards section 405.2 caps ramp slope at 1:12, and section 302.1 requires the ground surface be stable, firm and slip resistant, which rules out soft turf for an accessible unit without matting. A standard unit sits about 44 by 48 inches on the ground and stands roughly 92 inches tall, small enough to tuck behind a honeywagon or along a fence line without eating into the shot. If the location sits on a public street, placement in the right of way needs confirming with the city; that has not been verified for this page, so check with St. Louis before staging units on the curb. The porta potty placement guide covers ground clearance and setback basics crews use when scouting. For locations further out, like Chesterfield at 19.2 miles west or St. Peters at 27.0 miles northwest, delivery fees run $100 to $500 for a single day depending on distance and truck access, so it pays to confirm the route before delivery day. Productions running heavier construction on set, building facades or structures, should also check OSHA portable toilet requirements and construction site services since art department builds can trigger the same crew-based restroom counts as a general contractor's job site.

How far in advance should we book restrooms for a shoot?

Book as early as the location is locked, ideally two to three weeks out for multi-day shoots. Trailers and deluxe units book fastest. Same-day requests are possible through emergency porta potty rental but limit you to whatever standard stock is free that day.

Can we get restrooms delivered to a residential street for location shooting?

Yes, most residential blocks in St. Louis work fine for delivery, but curb placement in the public right of way needs confirming with the city first. Check porta potty permit requirements before locking the location.

Do restroom trailers need a generator on set?

Trailers with pumps, lighting and climate control need power, and most sets run this off the same generator supporting grip and electric. Confirm amperage with your rental provider before the truck arrives.

What is the difference between a standard unit and a deluxe unit for cast?

A standard unit is a basic non-flushing toilet suited to background and crew. A deluxe flushable porta potty flushes, has a sink, and suits cast trailers or producer use on longer shoot days.

Do we need an ADA unit if no one on set uses one?

If units are clustered for general crew use, ADA Standards section 213.2 still requires at least one accessible unit in that cluster. Productions in St. Louis plan for this regardless of confirmed need on any given day.

Frequently asked questions