Porta Potty Permits in Los Angeles County, City by City
You need a permit to place a porta potty in Los Angeles County only when the unit sits in the public right-of-way - a street, sidewalk, or alley. Units placed entirely on private property generally do not require one.
Below is the actual office for every city we serve, with address and phone. We publish this because nobody else in this market does, and because the wrong answer costs you a delivery day.
Permit desks by city
Where to pull a permit in Huntington Park
City of Huntington Park Public Works Department
- Address
- 6900 Bissell St, Huntington Park, CA 90255
- Phone
- (323) 584-6274
- Permit
- Encroachment permit for public right-of-way
Where to pull a permit in Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering
- Permit
- R Permit - Encroachment in Public Way
Where to pull a permit in Montebello
City of Montebello Public Works, Engineering Division
- Address
- 1600 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640
- Phone
- (323) 887-4540
- Hours
- Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Permit
- Encroachment permit
Four-day city hall week. Counters closed Friday, so Thursday afternoon is the effective weekly deadline.
Where to pull a permit in South Gate
City of South Gate Public Works Department
- Address
- 8650 California Ave, South Gate, CA 90280
- Phone
- (323) 357-9657
- Permit
- Encroachment permit, downloadable application published
Where to pull a permit in Vernon
City of Vernon
- Permit
- Handled in-city; Vernon operates its own municipal departments
Where to pull a permit in West Hollywood
West Hollywood Film Office
- Phone
- (323) 848-6489
- Permit
- Film permit, required for all shoots on public and private property, minimum 3 business days advance. Separate encroachment permit required for any use of street, alley, or public right-of-way for construction activity.
What the county requires of your vendor
Sewage Pumping Vehicles and Chemical Toilets - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program
In Los Angeles County, the companies that pump and haul portable toilet waste must hold an annual Public Health Permit. The Environmental Health Division's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program issues those permits and inspects the pumper trucks. County code requires chemical toilets to be kept sanitary and requires waste to be disposed of at an approved sewage treatment plant.
Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, Sewage Pumping Vehicles and Chemical Toilets (verified against the primary source)
This is worth asking any vendor directly: whether the company servicing your units holds a current LA County pumping permit, and where the waste is disposed. It is verifiable, and most buyers never ask.
Answers
Permit questions
Still unsure after reading these? Calling is faster than typing.
Do I need a permit for a porta potty in Los Angeles?
Only if it sits in the public right-of-way. In the City of Los Angeles that is an R Permit (Encroachment in Public Way) from the Bureau of Engineering. On private property, generally no permit is needed.
Which city takes the longest to permit?
Montebello, in practical terms. City Hall runs a four-day week and Public Works counters are closed Friday, so an application that misses Thursday afternoon does not move until Monday.
Does West Hollywood have extra requirements?
Yes. Film permits must be filed at least three business days ahead with the West Hollywood Film Office, and a separate encroachment permit is required if any part of a street, alley, or right-of-way is used for construction activity.
Is there a county-wide permit?
No. Permits are issued city by city. Separately, LA County Public Health requires the companies that pump and haul the waste to hold an annual Public Health Permit - that one is on the vendor, not on you.