Cal/OSHA construction toilet requirements are set in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 1526. Handwashing is covered in Section 1527, and this guide works through both for crews of 4 to 80. Treat it as a summary, not legal advice, and check the official text with your safety advisor.
What does Cal/OSHA Section 1526 require on a construction site?
Cal/OSHA Section 1526 requires 1 toilet for each 20 employees of each sex, or fraction of 20. That rule covers every construction employer in California. Toilets must also be kept clean and stocked with paper. Each one must give the user privacy.
The ratio is counted separately for men and women on the crew. So a crew of 18 men and 3 women needs 1 toilet for the men and 1 for the women. "Fraction thereof" means you round up: 21 workers of one sex need 2 toilets, not 1.
Porta potties are single-user units. Under Exception 2 of Section 1526, each single-user toilet marked for all-gender use counts toward the total, as long as the total still meets the ratio. Read the full rule on the official Cal/OSHA Title 8 Section 1526 page.
What if my crew has fewer than 5 employees?
A construction crew with fewer than 5 employees can meet Cal/OSHA Section 1526 with 1 single-user, all-gender toilet. The single-user toilet must still be kept clean, supplied with toilet paper and give privacy. Small crews do not need separate toilets for each sex.
This covers a lot of local work: a pool crew, a 3-person roofing team or a solo tile setter at a home remodel. One standard porta potty handles this need.
How is Cal/OSHA different from federal OSHA for jobsite toilets?
Cal/OSHA counts 1 toilet per 20 employees of each sex. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 uses 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers. Above that, it asks for 1 seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. California jobsites follow Cal/OSHA Title 8, which asks for more toilets on large mixed crews.
| Rule | Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1526 | Federal OSHA 1926.51(c) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic ratio | 1 per 20 employees of each sex, or fraction | 20 or fewer: 1 toilet |
| Larger crews | Keep adding 1 per 20 of each sex | 20 or more: 1 seat and 1 urinal per 40 |
| Small crews | Under 5: 1 single-user all-gender toilet | Covered by the 20-or-fewer rule |
| Applies in California | Yes | Cal/OSHA runs the state plan |
You can compare with the federal text at OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51. For a California jobsite, plan from the Cal/OSHA numbers.
What does Cal/OSHA Section 1527 say about handwashing?
Cal/OSHA Section 1527 requires at least 1 washing station for each 20 employees, or fraction of 20. Each Section 1527 washing station must be kept clean and sanitary, with enough water, soap, and single-use towels or a warm-air blower. A portable hand washing station meets this need on most jobsites.
Our hand washing stations are the PolyJohn Bravo class. Each holds 22 gallons of fresh water and has a dual foot pump. The manufacturer rates it at about 350 uses per fill.
Read the rule on the Cal/OSHA Title 8 Section 1527 page. See our hand washing station rental page for setup details.
How many toilets does my crew need? Worked examples
A crew of 25 with 22 men and 3 women needs 3 toilets under Cal/OSHA Section 1526: 2 for the 22 men and 1 for the 3 women. Count each sex on its own, divide by 20, and round up. The table below works through crews of 4, 12, 25, 45 and 80.
The crew splits below are examples. Use your own head count by sex on the busiest day of the job.
| Crew size | Example split | Toilets: legal minimum (8 CCR 1526) | Wash stations: legal minimum (8 CCR 1527) | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Any mix | 1 single-user all-gender toilet | 1 | 1 standard unit + 1 hand washing station |
| 12 | 10 men, 2 women | 2 (1 + 1) | 1 | 2 standard units + 1 hand washing station |
| 25 | 22 men, 3 women | 3 (2 + 1) | 2 | 3 standard units + 2 hand washing stations |
| 45 | 40 men, 5 women | 3 (2 + 1) | 3 | 3 standard units, plus 1 more if the site is spread out; 3 hand washing stations |
| 80 | 70 men, 10 women | 5 (4 + 1) | 4 | 5 standard units with an extra mid-week service; 4 hand washing stations |
How we checked the hand washing numbers
The legal minimum is 1 wash station per 20 workers, rounded up. We also check water supply. We assume each worker washes 3 times a day, 5 days a week.
A crew of 25 makes about 375 washes a week, more than the 350 uses one station holds per fill. So the 2 stations the rule requires also cover water between weekly services. A crew of 80 makes about 1,200 washes a week, and 4 stations hold about 1,400 uses, so they last the week.
Why do we recommend more than the legal minimum?
Zid Portable Services sometimes recommends more than the Cal/OSHA minimum. A toilet that fills up mid-week breaks the Section 1526 rule that toilets stay clean. A 60-gallon tank on a busy 6-day crew fills fast, so an extra unit or service visit keeps the site in line.
Long walks also matter. On a big lot, a crew at the far end may skip breaks or waste time walking. A second cluster of units near that crew saves time.
Summer heat matters too. Crews drink more water in Coachella Valley summers, which means more restroom use. Call us before a heat wave if you want to add a mid-week service.
How does servicing work on a construction rental?
Every Zid Portable Services construction rental includes weekly servicing: the porta potty is pumped, cleaned and restocked with toilet paper once a week. Construction rentals bill on a 28-day cycle. Extra service visits can be added for large or busy crews.
The service truck needs to reach each unit every week. Keep the path clear of pallets, dumpsters and parked equipment. If you move a unit, tell us the new spot.
See crew sizing and service options on our construction porta potty rental page, or use the porta potty calculator for event and site counts.
What should a contractor check before the job starts?
A contractor should check 5 things before the job starts. Count the peak crew by sex and the toilets Section 1526 requires. Plan handwashing under Section 1527 and truck access for weekly service. Name the person who calls for pickup.
- Count the peak crew by sex, including subs.
- Divide each group by 20 and round up.
- Add hand washing stations for the crew size.
- Mark a spot the service truck can reach.
- Name the person who calls to add units or end the rental.
Rules change, so confirm the current text with Cal/OSHA or your safety advisor. This guide is general information, not legal advice.