What drives rentals in Ann Arbor
Game days. Home football weekends bring huge crowds to the area around Michigan Stadium. Tailgate lots, private parking setups and neighborhood gatherings often bring in their own units, and providers get busy early on those weekends.
Summer art fairs. The Ann Arbor Art Fair season in July fills downtown and campus-area streets for several days. Vendors, organizers and nearby businesses sometimes add restrooms to handle visitors.
Campus and commencement. University events, graduation parties in late April and early May, and student move-in all add short bursts of demand.
Construction. Ongoing building on and around campus, plus residential projects across Washtenaw County, keep construction units in steady use.
Weddings and private parties. Barns, farms and backyard venues around Dexter, Saline and Chelsea often rely on restroom trailers for a more polished guest experience.
City permits in Ann Arbor
If your event uses city streets, sidewalks or parks, it likely needs a special event permit from the City of Ann Arbor. Some things to know from the city's published rules:
- Applications are submitted through the city's online portal and should be filed at least 60 working days before the event, especially if streets will close.
- A small non-refundable processing fee is due at submission.
- A permit is generally required when 25 or more people or vehicles are in city streets, or 50 or more people are using city parks or sidewalks.
- Closing any street requires a City Council resolution, and events on state trunklines such as Huron, Washtenaw, Jackson or Main need a separate application plus MDOT approval, which the city says takes about five weeks.
Show restroom placement on the site map you submit. Units should not block sidewalks, barricades or emergency access routes. Events on private property, including most backyard parties, generally don't need a city event permit, though other rules may still apply.
Weather and timing
Ann Arbor's outdoor season runs roughly May through October. July is the peak, with art fair week and outdoor weddings. Fall football weekends keep demand high into November.
Winter construction continues through Michigan's cold months. Ask for winterized units with non-freezing additives and keep a cleared path for the service truck after snow.
Quick sizing guide
- Tailgate or backyard party (50 guests, 4 hours): 1–2 units
- Graduation party (120 guests, afternoon): 3 units plus a hand-wash station
- Wedding (175 guests, evening, bar service): 4–5 units or a 3- to 4-stall restroom trailer
- Neighborhood festival (500 people across a day): 12–15 units, including accessible units
Add accessible units for any public event, using the Access Board guidance of at least 5% of units per cluster, with at least one in each cluster on level ground.
Rough pricing
Ann Arbor pricing generally falls in line with southeast Michigan:
- Standard event unit: typically about $100–$250
- Deluxe or ADA unit: often roughly $150–$350
- Restroom trailer for a weekend: commonly $1,000–$3,000 or more
- Construction unit, monthly with weekly service: roughly $125–$250
Game days and art fair week may come with tighter delivery windows or higher demand, so book early.
Next steps
Post your job with the address, dates and expected headcount, and flag it if your date lands on a home game or art fair week. Companies covering Washtenaw County can then send free quotes for you to compare.