Cal/OSHA Portable Toilet
Requirements
California construction employers must provide at least one toilet for every 20 employees or fraction of 20, and at least one washing station for every 20, kept clean and stocked. Portable toilets are allowed where there is no sewer connection. Here is what the rule says, section by section.
Last reviewed November 11, 2026. This is a summary for planning, not legal advice. The regulations themselves are linked under each table.
Toilets at Construction Job Sites: Title 8, Section 1526
Section 1526 of the California Construction Safety Orders sets how many toilets a job site needs and how they must be kept.
| Topic | What the rule says | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Number of toilets | At least one toilet for every 20 employees or fraction of 20. | 1526(a) |
| Separate facilities | Separate toilets for each sex. Exception: with fewer than five employees, one single-user, all-gender toilet is enough. Single-user all-gender toilets can also count toward the total. | 1526(a) |
| Urinals | Urinals can count toward the total, but toilets must make up at least half of the required number. | 1526(a) |
| Temporary field conditions | At least one toilet must be available. | 1526(b) |
| No sewer or water on site | Chemical, recirculating or combustion toilets, or privies, are allowed where flush toilets are not feasible, unless local rules prohibit them. This is the provision that covers portable toilets. | 1526(c) |
| Upkeep | Toilets must be kept clean and in good working order, give the user privacy, and have an adequate supply of toilet paper. | 1526(d) |
| Mobile crews | The rule does not apply to mobile crews that have transportation readily available to nearby toilets. | 1526(e) |
Source: California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 1526 (California Department of Industrial Relations).
Handwashing Stations: Title 8, Section 1527
A portable toilet alone does not satisfy the rule. Section 1527 requires washing stations alongside the toilets.
| Topic | What the rule says | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Number of washing stations | At least one washing station for every 20 employees or fraction of 20. | 1527(a)(1) |
| Supplies | Adequate water, soap or another cleansing agent, and single-use towels or a warm-air blower. Stations must be kept clean and sanitary. | 1527(a)(1) |
| Location | Placed so that an employee can wash whenever they use a toilet. | 1527(a)(1) |
| With portable toilets | Where a non-water toilet is used, the washing station must be outside the toilet and not attached to it, with the water marked as intended for washing. Exception: fewer than five employees and only one toilet. | 1527(a)(1) |
| Paints, coatings and other harmful substances | Washing facilities must be near the work and able to remove the substance from the skin. | 1527(a)(2) |
Source: California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 1527. Stations to meet it: hand wash station rental.
Cal/OSHA Compared With Federal OSHA
Federal OSHA sets its numbers in 29 CFR 1926.51(c), Table D-1. California's rule is stricter for crews over 20, and California job sites follow the California rule.
| Employees on site | California minimum (Title 8, 1526) | Federal minimum (29 CFR 1926.51) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 or fewer | 1 toilet | 1 toilet |
| 21 to 40 | 2 toilets | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 41 to 60 | 3 toilets | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 100 | 5 toilets | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 200 or more | 1 per 20 workers or fraction | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers |
Source: 29 CFR 1926.51, Sanitation (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
The Minimum Versus What Works
One toilet per 20 employees is the legal floor. Most contractors order more: one unit per 10 workers is the common industry guideline for a 40-hour week with weekly service, and it keeps units usable between service visits.
Enter your crew size in the porta potty calculator to see both numbers.
A Compliant Job-Site Setup
- Enough toilets for the largest shift, counted at one per 20 employees or fraction of 20.
- A washing station for every 20 employees, outside the toilets and close enough to use every time.
- Soap, water and paper towels kept stocked.
- Scheduled servicing so units stay clean and supplied.
- An ADA-accessible unit where the project or the site calls for one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many portable toilets does Cal/OSHA require on a construction site?
At least one toilet for every 20 employees or fraction of 20, under California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 1526(a). A crew of 21 needs two toilets and a crew of 45 needs three.
Does Cal/OSHA require a handwashing station next to a porta potty?
Yes. Title 8, section 1527 requires one washing station for every 20 employees or fraction of 20, with water, soap and single-use towels or an air blower, placed so workers can wash whenever they use the toilet. With portable toilets the station must be outside the toilet, not attached to it.
Is California stricter than federal OSHA?
For crews over 20, yes. Federal OSHA (29 CFR 1926.51) asks for one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers, and per 50 workers on crews of 200 or more. California asks for one toilet per 20 employees at every crew size. California employers follow Title 8.
Do men and women need separate portable toilets on a job site?
Section 1526(a) calls for separate toilet facilities for each sex. With fewer than five employees, one single-user, all-gender toilet meets the rule, and single-user all-gender toilets can count toward the total.
How often do job-site portable toilets have to be serviced?
Section 1526(d) says toilets must be kept clean and in good working order with enough toilet paper; it does not set a schedule. Weekly service is standard on most construction sites, and busy sites need it more often.
Are small or mobile crews exempt?
Mobile crews are exempt if they have transportation readily available to nearby toilet and washing facilities. A fixed site with a small crew is not exempt: at least one toilet must be available.
Related Rentals & Guides
Set Up a Compliant Job Site
Tell us your crew size, the address and how long the job runs. We will put together toilets, handwash stations and a service schedule that meet Title 8, and respond within 24 hours.