Outhouses Legality
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 |
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