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There is no one rule for outhouses in the United States and even less so for the rest of the world. It is unlikely that you will be able to build one in the city. Research local code for the minimum distance between septic sources and water sources, plus any other restrictions on size or depth. There are many different types of outhouse designs, some of them simpler than others. Before building, decide how many seats you want, and whether you will separate stalls by sex. Know the weather in your area. A screen fronted outhouse is fine for most summers, but won't do you much good in an Alaska winter. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Consider who will be using the privy. For instance, if a parent has to accompany a child, make sure that there is room to accommodate them. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/v4-459px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} While most outhouses are rectangular in shape, they can vary in comfort and size. They can either simply have a hole in the floor of the outhouse over which one squats, or they can have an actual seat to sit upon. All outhouses should have some form of ventilation and preferably something with which to wipe. Building a shelf in the outhouse can provide a place for toilet paper and a few magazines and hand sanitizers. It's a good opportunity to get creative! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet3.jpg\/v4-459px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet3.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-2Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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Check your area's restrictions to make sure an outhouse is permitted. Choose a design.