Outhouses Legality by State 2025
Illegal
21
Legal
16
Permit required
11
Legal With NSF Approval
2
State | Outhouses Legality↓ | Additional Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Maine | Permit required | |
 | Minnesota | Permit required | |
 | Mississippi | Permit required | Legal only in remote locations without indoor plumbing. |
 | Nevada | Permit required | |
 | New Hampshire | Permit required | |
 | North Carolina | Permit required | |
 | North Dakota | Permit required | |
 | Tennessee | Permit required | Outhouses are usually illegal, but can be used when the home has no running water. |
 | Utah | Permit required | Only allowed for temporary use in remote locations where there is no water supply or wastewater disposal. |
 | Vermont | Permit required | |
 | Wyoming | Permit required | |
 | Georgia | Legal With NSF Approval | Certain regulations must be followed. Outhouses may be illegal in some counties. |
 | Illinois | Legal With NSF Approval | |
 | Arizona | Legal | Usually only permitted in certain situations, such as when septic tanks are not feasible. |
 | Connecticut | Legal | Only for nonresidental use. |
 | Idaho | Legal | |
 | Louisiana | Legal | Only in homes that do not have water under pressure. |
 | Michigan | Legal | The State Law doesn't prohibit outhouses, but there are restrictions and many counties prohibit them. |
 | Montana | Legal | |
 | Nebraska | Legal | Only in decentralized camping areas. |
 | New Mexico | Legal | |
 | New York | Legal | It's illegal to build a new pit-privy. |
 | Oklahoma | Legal | While outhouses are not specifically mentioned in Oklahoma's laws, they could be approved as an "alternative system". |
 | Oregon | Legal | |
 | South Carolina | Legal | Often illegal under county laws. |
 | Texas | Legal | |
 | Virginia | Legal | Many restrictions and regulations excist. Also, other local laws may make outhouses illegal. |
 | West Virginia | Legal | |
 | Wisconsin | Legal | |
 | Alabama | Illegal | Legal only in remote locations without indoor plumbing. |
 | Alaska | Illegal | Outhouses are legal under the law, but many local laws otften make it illegal. |
 | Arkansas | Illegal | |
 | California | Illegal | Legality may vary in some counties. |
 | Colorado | Illegal | Allowed only as temporary method - no more than 7 days in very remote areas. |
 | Delaware | Illegal | |
 | Florida | Illegal | Only legal in non-permanent residences in remote areas without electricity. |
 | Hawaii | Illegal | |
 | Indiana | Illegal | Legal if there is no running water or possibility of a septic tank. |
 | Iowa | Illegal | |
 | Kansas | Illegal | Vault-type outhouses are legal, but many counties forbid all outhouses. |
 | Kentucky | Illegal | |
 | Maryland | Illegal | Only allowed in dwellings that do not have water under pressure. |
 | Massachusetts | Illegal | |
 | Missouri | Illegal | Legal only in remote locations without indoor plumbing. |
 | New Jersey | Illegal | |
 | Ohio | Illegal | Illegal in most cases, but may be permitted with strict requirements. |
 | Pennsylvania | Illegal | Exception for homes that do not have water under pressure. |
 | Rhode Island | Illegal | |
 | South Dakota | Illegal | Only outhouses built before 1975 are legal. |
 | Washington | Illegal |
How Does The U.S. Regulate Off-Grid Living?
Outhouses are generally considered off-grid modifications for the release of human waste. Few states make the distinction between the two extremes of legal and illegal; most have adopted an approval or permit system. Generally speaking, if the area is highly metropolitan, has a large population, or is concerned about water usage, their laws will be more strict in regard to outhouse installation.
For off grid-living, there are different types of outhouse toilets. Traditional outhouses, bucket toilets, compostable toilets, and tank/septic systems are all popular options. Compostable toilets should have NSF certification to be used
In What States Are Outhouses Legal?
- Alabama: outhouses are illegal.
- Alaska: Outhouses are allowed but strict rules apply.
- Arizona: Legal with a permit. Certain modifications may apply.
- Arkansas: Legal with NSF approval.
- California: Legal with a permit. Outhouses are illegal throughout most of the state.
- Colorado: Only NSF-approved compost toilets are allowed for less than 7 days.
- Connecticut: Legal with the local department of health. Waste from compost toilets must be buried.
- Delaware: All outhouses are illegal
- Florida: Legal with NSF approval.
- Georgia: Only NSF-approved compost toilets are allowed. Waste from compost toilets must be buried.
- Hawaii: Outhouses are illegal
- Idaho: Pit privies are legal
- Illinois: Only NSF-approved compost toilets are allowed.
- Indiana: Extremely restrictive, only allowed if no sanitary sewer is available.
- Iowa: Permits may be needed for “alternative toilets.”
- Kansas: Pit privies are illegal, but vault-type outhouses are allowed
- Kentucky: Outhouses are illegal, but still found in many parts of the state
- Louisiana: No regulations.
- Maine: Permit is required
- Maryland: Only allowed in dwellings without water under pressure
- Massachusetts: Generally illegal
- Michigan: Each county sets its own law. Certain modifications may apply.
- Minnesota: Legal with few regulations.
- Mississippi: Legal with local or state approval. They must be used only in remote areas of the state and require a permit.
- Missouri: Extremely restrictive, only allowed if no sanitary sewer is available.
- Montana: Legal
- Nebraska: Legal with a permit and inspection.
- Nevada: There are regulations about when waste disposal systems can be used. Permits are also required.
- New Hampshire: Outhouses are legal
- New Jersey: Illegal, but may be allowed under certain circumstances
- New Mexico: Legal with a permit.
- New York: Legal with few regulations. Water from sinks and showers is required to be connected to the public sewage system for treatment.
- North Carolina: Outhouses are legal
- North Dakota: Legal with few regulations and requiring a permit.
- Ohio: Illegal, with few exceptions
- Oklahoma: Permit is required
- Oregon: Legal with a permit and possible inspection. Certain modifications may apply.
- Pennsylvania: Legal with NSF approval. Connection to the municipal sewage system is usually required.
- Rhode Island: Illegal
- South Carolina: Legal, but only when used with a septic system.
- South Dakota: Illegal
- Tennessee: Illegal, but may be used if no running water is available to the dwelling
- Texas: Legal with NSF approval. No permit is required for single-family usage in counties with less than 40,000 people.
- Utah: Legal, but only able to be built and used in certain areas
- Vermont: Legal with few regulations and a permit.
- Virginia: Outhouses are legal
- Washington: Illegal in most areas of the state
- West Virginia: Outhouses are legal
- Wisconsin: Legal, with relaxed regulations.
- Wyoming: Outhouses will require a permit if self-contained
