Seattle's Special Events Office requires the portable restrooms to be shown on the site map in the permit application, and the Special Events Committee reviews and approves that map. Units are kept away from business entrances and high-traffic paths, and food workers' restrooms must be within 200 feet of the serving location, with a handwashing sink beside a counted unit.
Key takeaways
- The units must appear on the site map in the permit application.
- The Special Events Committee reviews and approves the map.
- Units are kept away from business entrances and high-traffic paths.
- A food worker's restroom must be within 200 feet of the serving location.
- A portable toilet counts for food workers only with a handwashing sink beside it.
- The map should show the clusters, the accessible units and the emergency access.
What must be on the map?
The units and their clusters, the counts, the accessible units and their routes, and the emergency access, drawn on one site plan.
The committee reads the map first, and it looks for the units as the first item. A map that shows the stages and the entrances but not the units invites a revision request.
The accessible units are shown with their firm routes, and the emergency access is left open on the drawing.
How is the business-entrance rule applied?
Each unit is placed far enough from a business entrance that the entrance stays open, and off the path the crowd uses to reach the stage or the exit.
The businesses along an event route expect their doors to stay clear. A unit beside a door is the usual complaint, so the placement is set back and shown on the map with the distance.
The high-traffic path is the route the crowd takes most often, and a unit on it is a hazard. The units sit on a side route with a short walk to the path.
How is the food rule shown?
Each food area's serving location is marked, the nearest counted unit is shown within 200 feet, and a handwashing sink is drawn beside each counted unit.
The distance is measured along the walk. A unit across a closed lane may be too far, and the map shows the walk, not the straight line.
A sink is drawn beside each counted unit, with the note that it has hot water, soap and paper towels.
What does the committee check on the second read?
Whether the map matches the count, whether the emergency access is open, whether the accessible routes are firm, and whether the food rule is met at each serving location.
A second read catches a cluster drawn in the wrong place or a count that does not match the table, so the organizer checks both before filing.
A legend and a scale bar are used so the committee can read the drawing without a question.
What happens when the map changes?
The changes are shown on a revised map and filed with the reasons, and any change that affects the approved layout is reported to the Special Events Office.
A revised map that marks the changes is quicker to review than a fresh plan. The changed units are shown with a note.
The event team keeps a dated record of every revision, so the file shows what was approved and what changed afterwards.
Who draws the map?
The organizer draws and files it. The provider supplies the cluster positions, counts and routes, which the organizer transfers onto the drawing.
The provider does not file the application. The organizer keeps the role and answers the committee's questions.
A consistent map is one where the restroom section matches the rest of the plan, so the two are checked against each other before filing.
What does the committee check first?
The committee checks that the units are on the map at all, that the accessible routes are firm, that the emergency access is open, and that the food rule is met at each serving location.
A map that shows the stages and entrances but not the units invites a revision request, and it is the most common reason for delay.
The accessible routes are checked against the surface and the slope, and the food distance is measured along the walk rather than across a closure.
How should a revised map be filed?
A revised map marks each change, carries a note of the reason and is filed with the date, so the reviewer can see what moved since the last version.
A map with unmarked changes forces a full re-read, which slows the approval. The marked changes let the reviewer check only what is new.
The earlier version stays in the file, so the record shows what was approved and what was changed afterwards.
What happens on the day if a unit is moved?
A unit moved on the day keeps the approved route only if the new spot has the same firm surface and a clear path, and the change is reported to the office if it affects the approved layout.
A unit moved onto soft ground or behind a barrier must be moved back, since the route is part of the approval.
The stewards are told where each unit now stands, and the updated position is written onto the map kept on site.
How should the map handle a long route?
A long route is drawn in sections, each with its clusters, its counts and its accessible units, with a key map that shows the sections together.
A single drawing of a long route is too small to read the clusters, so the route is split into sections that the reviewer can check one at a time.
The key map shows where each section sits, so the reviewer can see the whole route and move between sections without losing the place.
What if the event uses a private lot as well as the street?
A private lot is shown on the map with the owner's consent noted, and its clusters are placed with the same rules for entrances, paths and access as the public space.
The owner's written consent is kept with the file, and the consent names the spot and the dates.
The lot's entrances and driveways are kept open, and the map shows the access for the vehicles that use them.
How do stewards use the map on the day?
Stewards carry a copy of the map and the cluster numbers, and they report any cluster that is full, blocked or out of service so the provider can respond.
A steward with the map can direct a visitor to the nearest unit, which is faster than a radio call to the office.
The steward's report names the cluster number, so the provider knows which unit to visit first.
How do you show a cluster on a hill or a slope?
The cluster is shown with its contour or its level change marked, so the reviewer can see that the units are on a level pad and the route to them is walkable.
A cluster drawn on a flat plan may be on a slope in reality, and the reviewer will ask. A simple note of the level change answers the question before it is asked.
The accessible route on a slope is shown with its gradient, so the reviewer can see whether the route is usable.
How is a map for a multi-day event kept current?
The map is dated each day it changes, the changes are marked, and the current version is kept on site and with the Special Events Office.
A current map on site means a steward always works from the latest arrangement.
The office holds the version that was approved, so any later change is compared against it.
Frequently asked questions
Where must portable restrooms be shown?
On the site map in the permit application, which the Special Events Committee reviews and approves.
How far from a business entrance must a unit stand?
The guidance says to keep units away from business entrances. The plan sets the distance so the entrance stays open.
What is the food distance?
Food workers' restrooms must be within 200 feet of the serving location.
Who approves the map?
The Special Events Committee, as part of the application.
Who draws the map?
The organizer, with the provider's unit details.
Can the map be revised after filing?
Yes. Changes are shown on a revised map with the reasons, and changes to an approved layout are reported to the office.
Sources
- City of Seattle, Special Events Office, Restroom Facilities guidance
- City of Seattle, Special Events Office, Food Service guidance
- City of Seattle
This guide is general information for King County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.