Cal/OSHA Porta Potty Rules for California Job Sites, Explained

California job sites follow Cal/OSHA, not only federal OSHA. Construction uses Title 8, section 1526. Farm field work uses section 3457. Here is what each rule asks for, with the numbers in plain English.

How many toilets does Cal/OSHA require on a construction site?

Cal/OSHA Title 8, section 1526 requires 1 toilet for every 20 employees of each sex, or fraction of 20. Crews of fewer than 5 can share 1 all-gender single-user toilet. Urinals can count toward the total, but toilets must be at least half of the required number.

The rule also says toilets must be kept clean, stocked with paper and built for privacy. Mobile crews that have quick transport to nearby toilets are exempt. Source: Cal/OSHA Title 8, section 1526.

How does "of each sex" change the count?

Cal/OSHA counts men and women separately. A crew of 18 men and 3 women needs 2 toilets: 1 for the men and 1 for the women. That holds even though the total crew is only 21. Mark one unit for women with a door sign. We add signs at no charge.

What does Cal/OSHA require for farm field crews?

Cal/OSHA Title 8, section 3457 requires 1 toilet and 1 hand washing facility for every 20 field workers, separate by sex. Facilities must be within a quarter-mile walk or 5 minutes, whichever is shorter. Hand washing tanks must hold at least 15 gallons, and service records must be kept 2 years.

Crews of fewer than 5, field work of under 2 hours including travel, and work that is not hand labor can use transport to facilities instead. Source: Cal/OSHA Title 8, section 3457.

Legal minimum vs. what works on a real site

The legal minimum is 1 toilet per 20 workers. In practice, 1 unit on weekly service fills up with about 10 workers on 40-hour weeks. For a 20-person crew, plan 2 units, or 1 unit serviced twice a week. Heat waves and long shifts push that number higher.

Use the porta potty calculator to check your crew, then see construction rentals or farm and field rentals.

Is this legal advice?

This guide summarizes the public text of the rules as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Your safety officer, Cal/OSHA consultation service or project manager makes the final call on what your site needs.