An accessible portable toilet plan for a Louisville event states the number of accessible units, where they stand, the firm route to them and the checks made on the day. No Louisville or Kentucky requirement for an accessible share at events was sourced, so the number is agreed with the organizer from the expected need and the route.
Key takeaways
- An accessible unit has a wider door, a clear floor to turn in and grab bars at a usable height.
- The route from the gate or the car park is as important as the unit, and a grass or gravel path is a barrier.
- No Louisville or Kentucky accessible share for events was sourced, so none is stated.
- Place the unit on the shortest firm, level route, and check it on the day.
- Show the accessible route on the drawing filed with the Metro application.
- Re-check the bars, the door and the pad at every service visit and after rain.
What the plan must say
The plan states the number of accessible units, their placement, the route, the grab bars and the door checks, and the visit times, so an organizer or an office can see that the need was considered.
A plan that says accessible units are provided, without a number, a place and a route, is not a plan. The number shows how the need was counted, the placement shows where a guest can reach the unit, and the route shows that the path from the gate or the car park is usable.
The plan also says what checks are made and when. A bar that loosens or a pad that sinks is found at the next visit only if someone has agreed to look for it.
Finally the plan names the person on site responsible for the accessible unit, so a fault has a named contact on the day.
Counting the accessible need
The count is agreed from the expected need, which the organizer can estimate from the audience, the age profile and any requests made in advance.
An event for older guests, families with strollers or a sports crowd of mixed ages has a different need from a small private party. The organizer knows the audience, and the count is agreed from what the organizer expects.
Where no need is known, the plan still provides at least one accessible unit at a long event and says why. A single unit can be stretched on a long day, and a second is discussed when the crowd is large.
The count is shown beside the general count on the plan, so the reviewer sees both.
Route, ground and the walk from the gate
A guest reaches the accessible unit by a route, and the route has to be firm, level and short, since a grass or gravel path or a curb step is a barrier even when the unit is perfect.
The technician walks from the gate, the car park and any transit stop to the restroom area. Each change of surface, each slope and each curb is marked. The accessible unit is placed where the route is firmest and shortest, and a mat or short ramp is added where a small step cannot be avoided.
On a riverfront or park site the walk can cross grass or boardwalk. A firm path or boards are laid on the route a guest will take, and the unit is placed at the end of that path.
A route that is firm at breakfast can be soft by the afternoon after a rain, so the route is checked again before the gates open.
- Mark every curb, step and soft patch
- Place the unit at the firmest, flattest end
- Use a mat or a short ramp for a small step
- Show the route on the drawing
Placement, the pad and the turning space
The unit is set on a level pad with room in front of the door for a wheelchair to turn, and the door swing is checked so it does not strike a fence or a post.
A level pad is the first requirement. A unit on a slope drifts and its door swings. The pad is checked each morning of the event and after rain.
The turning space in front of the door is kept clear of cords, hoses and stored items. A post or a fence that narrows the approach is moved, or the unit is turned to suit.
The unit is set so its door opens away from the path of travel where the space allows, which keeps the walk clear for other guests.
Checks on the day and at each visit
The grab bars, the door latch, the pad and the route are checked at placement, at each service visit and before the gates open, and any fault is reported straight away.
A bar that moves when pushed is reported and not used. A door that does not latch is repaired or the unit is replaced. A route that has softened is boarded before the crowd arrives.
The checks are written on the service sheet, so the organizer can see they were made and when.
At the end of the event the unit is checked again before it is collected, and any damage is recorded.
What goes on the Metro drawing
The drawing shows the accessible unit, its route from the gate, the turning space and the pad, so the Metro reviewer sees the same layout the crew will build.
The drawing marks each accessible unit with a symbol and a note, and it draws the route from the nearest gate in a line the reader can follow. The count of accessible units is shown beside the general count.
Where the route crosses a closure or a crowd barrier, the drawing shows the detour, so the accessible route is not lost when the closures go up.
A drawing that matches the ground is the easiest kind to approve, and the technician confirms it on the walk.
When one accessible unit is not enough
A long event, a large crowd or a known group of guests with needs can call for a second accessible unit, and the plan records the decision and its reason.
A single accessible unit at a long festival can be queued for while others wait. A second unit close to the first solves that and is recorded on the plan with its reason.
At a private event with a known guest who needs the unit, the unit is placed for that guest's route and the host is told, so the route is kept clear.
Guests with service animals and companions
A guest who uses a service animal or a companion needs room in the unit or a route that fits both, and the plan allows for that where the need is known.
A unit with a narrow door or a tight floor is hard to use with a companion or a working animal. Where a guest is known to need that room, the placement and the unit are chosen to suit, and the route is checked for the same width.
The guest and the organizer are asked about the need in advance, so the plan can respond before the day rather than on it.
Staff on the day and the accessible route
Staff who guide guests are shown the accessible unit and its route before the gates open, so the guidance they give is correct and a guest is not sent the wrong way.
A short walk with the stewards shows them the accessible unit, the route from the gate and the points where a guest may need help. The walk is repeated if the layout changes during the day.
A steward who cannot give an accurate answer is told to call the supervisor rather than guess, so a guest is never sent to a unit that is out of use.
Repeat events and the accessible unit's record
For an event that repeats each year on the same ground, the accessible unit's spot and route are recorded from the first year, so the next year starts from a tested plan.
The spot, the route, the grab bar checks and any problem found on the day are written down. A repeat event reuses that record, and the technician walks the route again before the day to confirm nothing has changed.
A record like this shows the organizer and any office that the accessible need was planned for and tested in earlier years, which is useful when the plan is reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Does Louisville require a set number of accessible units at events?
No Louisville or Kentucky share was found in the material this guide relies on. The number is agreed on the plan with the organizer.
What makes a unit accessible?
A wider door, a clear floor to turn in, grab bars at a usable height and a seat at a set height, reached by a firm, level route.
Can a mat or ramp fix a route?
For a small step or a short soft patch, yes. A long soft or steep route may need a different spot.
Who decides how many accessible units to provide?
The organizer decides with the technician, from the expected need and the route. The plan records the reason.
How is the unit checked during the event?
The bars, the door, the pad and the route are checked at placement, at each service visit and before the gates open.
Should the unit be by the gate?
Near the gate is best if the route from it is firm. The shortest firm route is the test, not the closest point on a map.
Does the Metro office see the accessible unit?
Yes. The drawing shows it with its route, so the office can see the placement with the rest of the layout.
Sources
- Louisville Metro Government, Special Events Handbook (revised 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Louisville/Jefferson County
This guide is general information for Jefferson County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.