Guide · Fontana, CA
Cal/OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for California Construction Sites
California requires 1 toilet per 20 workers of each sex and 1 washing station per 20 workers. That is about twice the federal OSHA count. Here are the exact rules, tables and examples.
By Fontana, owner · Reviewed
What does Cal/OSHA require for toilets on a construction site?
Cal/OSHA Title 8 §1526 requires at least 1 separate toilet for every 20 employees of each sex on a California construction site. Urinals may count, but toilets must be at least half the total. A crew of fewer than 5 workers may share 1 all-gender, single-user toilet. Toilets must be clean, private and stocked with paper.
Read the rule: Cal/OSHA Title 8 §1526, Toilets at Construction Jobsites.
How is Cal/OSHA different from federal OSHA?
Cal/OSHA is stricter than federal OSHA. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 Table D-1 allows 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers, then 1 seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. Cal/OSHA requires 1 toilet per 20 workers of each sex, so a California site often needs about twice as many units.
| Crew | Cal/OSHA §1526 (California) | Federal OSHA Table D-1 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 workers | 1 all-gender toilet | 1 toilet |
| 20 men | 1 toilet | 1 toilet |
| 30 men | 2 toilets | 1 seat + 1 urinal |
| 30 men + 10 women | 3 toilets (2 + 1) | 1 seat + 1 urinal |
| 80 men | 4 toilets | 2 seats + 2 urinals |
| 250 men | 13 toilets | 5 seats + 5 urinals |
Federal source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51.
Need a Cal/OSHA count for your crew?
Call(601) 236-1718Do California jobsites need handwashing stations?
Yes. Cal/OSHA Title 8 §1527 requires at least 1 washing station for every 20 employees, with water, soap and single-use towels or a dryer. Where chemical toilets are used, the washing station must be outside and not attached to the toilet, except on sites with under 5 workers and 1 toilet.
Read the rule: Cal/OSHA Title 8 §1527, Washing Facilities. Rent a handwashing station for each 20 workers.
What does Cal/OSHA require for farm workers?
Cal/OSHA Title 8 §3457 requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility for every 20 agricultural employees, located within a quarter-mile walk or 5 minutes, whichever is shorter. Field crews that move across a large property often meet this with a towable porta potty trailer.
Read the rule: Cal/OSHA Title 8 §3457, Field Sanitation. See towable porta potty trailers.
Legal minimum vs. what we recommend
The legal minimum is a floor, not a comfort target. Our recommendation for Inland Empire sites is to add 1 unit above the Cal/OSHA minimum for crews working 10-hour days or summer shifts, and to add a second weekly service when summer highs pass 95°F. This keeps units usable to the end of the week.
This page explains published rules in plain language. It is not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your safety officer or Cal/OSHA.
Questions renters ask
Can a male and female crew share one porta potty?
Only when the crew has fewer than 5 workers. Otherwise Cal/OSHA requires separate toilet facilities for each sex, or single-user toilets that lock from inside.
Is hand sanitizer enough on a California jobsite?
No. Cal/OSHA §1527 requires washing stations with water, soap and towels. Sanitizer alone does not meet the rule for most crews.
How clean does a jobsite porta potty have to be?
Cal/OSHA requires toilet facilities to be kept clean and sanitary and supplied with toilet paper. Weekly service is the usual minimum.
Does a mobile crew need its own porta potty?
Cal/OSHA exempts mobile crews that have transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities. Crews without that access need a unit on site.