Compliance guide · Reviewed Oct 2026
California Construction Toilet Requirements
California job sites follow Cal/OSHA, which asks for more toilets on big crews than federal OSHA. Here is the rule in plain English, with the exact sections linked so you can show your safety officer.
- Routes we drive:
- Hwy 1
- Hwy 20
- US-101
- Hwy 128
What are the construction toilet requirements in California?
Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1526(a) requires at least one separate toilet for each 20 employees or fraction of 20, of each sex. That means 1 toilet for up to 20 workers and 2 for 21–40. Federal OSHA Table D-1 allows fewer on large crews, but California employers must meet the stricter state rule.
| Workers | Cal/OSHA 1526 | Federal OSHA Table D-1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1–20 | 1 toilet | 1 toilet |
| 21–40 | 2 toilets | 1 seat + 1 urinal per 40 |
| 41–60 | 3 toilets | 1 seat + 1 urinal per 40 |
| 200+ | 1 per 20 | 1 seat + 1 urinal per 50 |
Sources: Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1526; OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51. The Cal/OSHA count applies to each sex separately. Not legal advice.
What are the cleaning and handwashing rules?
Cal/OSHA 1526(d) says toilet facilities must be kept clean and in good working order. Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1527 requires one washing station per 20 employees, with water, soap and single-use towels or a warm-air blower. Weekly service plus a hand wash station meets both for most crews of 10 or fewer.
Do farm crews follow the same rule?
Farm and vineyard crews follow Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 3457 instead: one toilet and one handwashing facility per 20 employees, within a quarter-mile walk or 5 minutes, and placed close together. Crews under 5 may share one all-gender toilet.
Are construction toilets required to be wheelchair-accessible?
Portable toilets used only by construction personnel are exempt from the accessible-toilet requirement under §203.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards; the 5% cluster rule is in 2010 ADA Standards §213.2. If a crew member uses a wheelchair, an accessible unit is still the right call, and it is a reasonable accommodation many employers provide.
Questions renters ask
Does Cal/OSHA count porta potties per sex on a mixed crew?
Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1526 counts toilets for each sex separately, at one per 20 employees or fraction of 20. Lockable single-occupancy porta potties are commonly used by both sexes. Ask your safety officer how your site applies the count.
What happens if an inspector finds too few toilets?
Too few or poorly kept toilets can be cited by Cal/OSHA. If you are short before an inspection, call for a same-day drop. We can usually add a unit to a Fort Bragg site the same day.
Make your site compliant
Tell us crew size and start date; we'll set count and service day.
(707) 360-1810 Calls answered daily, 7 am – 7 pm. Online quotes answered within 30 minutes during those hours.