Is It Legal To Have An Outhouse In New Jersey?

Can You Take It Outside?

So if you are not aware of exactly what an "outhouse" is, basically it is an outdoor bathroom. Before we had "indoor plumbing" people had to go outside and use the 'outhouse". Imagine running outside when it was raining or freezing and snowing! Must have been fun when it was pitch black trying to get to and from the "outhouse". Maybe you grabbed a candle or a torch to light the way? Needless to say, I think most people would prefer indoor plumbing (invented by Thomas Crapper) unless maybe you like lots of privacy. According to Pearson Plumbing, "Alexander Cummings patented the first flush toilet in 1775. But it wasn't until Thomas Crapper came along in the mid 1850s that toilets found their ways into the mainstream."

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So maybe you want to recreate a historic home? Is it legal to have an outhouse in New Jersey, the answer is simple, no! It is illegal to have an outhouse in the Garden State. According to World Population Review, "New Hampshire is one of the few states in the USA where outhouses are still legal. Outhouses are completely illegal in New Jersey. There are only a few very limited exceptions for cam... Outhouses, including unlined pit latrines, are legal in New Mexico."

You can build an outhouse in these states, in case you truly need to get "back to nature".

Alaska. Outhouses are allowed in many areas
Arkansas. Pit privy latrines, similar to outhouses, are also allowed in many areas.
Idaho, Pit privies are legal in Idaho.
Louisiana: No regulations.
Michigan. Outhouses are generally allowed, but each county will issue its own permits and inspections, so be sure to do more research depending on where you are located.
Minnesota: Legal with few regulations.
Montana: Legal
New Hampshire: Outhouses are legal
New Mexico. Outhouses, including unlined pit latrines, are legal in New Mexico. The state considers outhouses to be a “conventional treatment system”.
North Carolina: Outhouses are legal
Oregon. Outhouse latrines are legal in Oregon. They are referred to as “pit privies” in the law and require a permit in almost all cases.
South Carolina. Outhouses are legal under South Carolina State law. They are called “privies” and defined as a building containing a private waste system that is not connected with an approved system. The law states that privies be maintained in a sanitary way and are subject to inspection.
Virginia: Outhouses are legal
West Virginia: Outhouses are legal
Wisconsin. Pit privies are legal under Wisconsin State law. Local counties may forbid them, but many rural counties even specifically allow them in their laws and have exact rules about setbacks and design standards. Having these clear regulations is actually a good thing.