How do you lay out a man camp?
Start with the site, not the units
A crew camp works when trucks, water, and wastewater work. Plan these first:
- Access road and truck parking. Crews often bring one truck per worker. Some cities set parking by occupant; Odessa, for example, lists workforce housing at one space per occupant. Plan for oversize delivery trucks to reach every pad.
- Wastewater. A septic drain field needs significant land. A sewer tie-in or holding tanks change the layout. Your county or state health office sets the rules.
- Water and power. Run service to each pad. In rural sites, water may be a well or hauled.
- Unit rows. Set units in straight rows with walkways and fire-lane access.
A typical layout
- Entrance and parking at the front, with one gated access point.
- Dining, laundry, and office in the middle, close to parking for deliveries.
- Unit rows behind, with sleeping rooms away from truck traffic and generators.
- Wastewater field or tanks at the back or downslope, away from the water source.
For unit counts, see how many units for 50, 100, or 200 workers. For density, see how many units fit on an acre. For utilities, see what utilities a man camp needs, and for the full process, the crew camp site guide.
Rules that set spacing
Fire code, zoning, and wastewater rules differ by city and county, so there is no single spacing number. Check with the city or county before you finalize the plan. Inside city limits, a use permit may be required; see are man camps legal in Texas.
Our part
We sell new units built in Breckenridge, TX. Our team handles permits, delivery, and setup from start to finish, sets each unit on its pad, and connects it. Every job is different, and our team helps at every step. See man camp trailers and mobile sleeper units for the models.
More questions
What should I plan first in a man camp layout?
Access and wastewater. The road in, truck parking, and the septic field or sewer connection take the most land and are the hardest to move, so place them before the unit rows.
How far apart should man camp units be?
Your local fire code and your city or county set it. Ask the fire marshal or county engineer early, because spacing and fire-lane width decide how many units fit on the site.
Where should dining go in a man camp?
Near the center, between the unit rows and the parking, so crews walk a short distance and delivery trucks reach it without driving past sleeping rooms. Camps built on crew units with shared kitchens may not need one.
Who sets up the units on the site plan?
Our team. We deliver, set, and connect each unit to the utilities at its pad. You provide the land, and our team coordinates pads, roads, and utility service to each pad.
Related questions
- How many units for 50, 100, or 200 workers?
- How many crew units fit on an acre?
- How to Build (Start) a Man Camp
- What utilities does a man camp need?
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