Is Composting Toilets Legal? Laws in All 50 States (2026)

Quick Answer

Composting Toilets has a complicated legal status across the U.S. It's legal in 20 states, restricted in 30, and banned in 0 as of 2026. The rules change at every state line.

20 Legal

30 Restricted

0 Illegal

Last verified: April 2026 · About our research

Composting Toilets Legality Map

Legal

Restrictions

Illegal

Unverified

All 50 States

State	Status	Summary
Alabama	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Alabama but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. I...	Details →
Alaska	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Alaska under state plumbing or health codes. Wastewater disposal regulati...	Details →
Arizona	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Arizona under state plumbing or health codes. Arizona has a well-establis...	Details →
Arkansas	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Arkansas under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative...	Details →
California	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in California but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet...	Details →
Colorado	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Colorado under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative...	Details →
Connecticut	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Connecticut but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toile...	Details →
Delaware	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Delaware but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Florida	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Florida under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ...	Details →
Georgia	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Georgia under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ...	Details →
Hawaii	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Hawaii but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. Wh...	Details →
Idaho	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Idaho under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ch...	Details →
Illinois	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Illinois under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative...	Details →
Indiana	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Indiana but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. N...	Details →
Iowa	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Iowa but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. Hous...	Details →
Kansas	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Kansas but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. No...	Details →
Kentucky	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Kentucky but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Louisiana	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Louisiana but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet....	Details →
Maine	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Maine under state plumbing or health codes. A 2022 law prohibiting the la...	Details →
Maryland	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Maryland but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Massachusetts	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Massachusetts under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legisl...	Details →
Michigan	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Michigan but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Minnesota	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Minnesota but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet....	Details →
Mississippi	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Mississippi but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toile...	Details →
Missouri	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Missouri but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Montana	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Montana under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ...	Details →
Nebraska	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Nebraska but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Nevada	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Nevada but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. No...	Details →
New Hampshire	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in New Hampshire under state plumbing or health codes. NHDES updated its reg...	Details →
New Jersey	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in New Jersey but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet...	Details →
New Mexico	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in New Mexico under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislati...	Details →
New York	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in New York but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
North Carolina	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in North Carolina but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional to...	Details →
North Dakota	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in North Dakota but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toil...	Details →
Ohio	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Ohio but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. No s...	Details →
Oklahoma	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Oklahoma but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Oregon	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Oregon under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative c...	Details →
Pennsylvania	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Pennsylvania under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legisla...	Details →
Rhode Island	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Rhode Island but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toil...	Details →
South Carolina	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in South Carolina but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional to...	Details →
South Dakota	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in South Dakota but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toil...	Details →
Tennessee	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Tennessee under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislativ...	Details →
Texas	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Texas under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ch...	Details →
Utah	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Utah but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. No s...	Details →
Vermont	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Vermont under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ...	Details →
Virginia	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Virginia but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet. ...	Details →
Washington	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Washington under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislati...	Details →
West Virginia	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in West Virginia but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toi...	Details →
Wisconsin	RESTRICTED	Composting toilets may be used in Wisconsin but typically only as a supplemental system alongside a conventional toilet....	Details →
Wyoming	LEGAL	Composting toilets are explicitly permitted in Wyoming under state plumbing or health codes. No significant legislative ...	Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is installing a composting toilet legal in the United States?

Composting Toilets has a complicated legal status across the U.S. It's legal in 20 states, restricted in 30, and banned in 0 as of 2026. The rules change at every state line.

How many states allow composting toilets?

As of 2026, composting toilets is legal in 20 states, restricted with conditions in 30 states. Use the map and table on this page to check your specific state.

Can you travel across state lines with composting toilets?

Crossing state lines changes which laws apply. If composting toilets is legal in your home state but illegal in the state you're entering, you can face criminal charges the moment you cross the border. Always check the laws of every state on your route.