What are the Cal/OSHA portable toilet requirements for construction sites?
Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §1526 requires 1 toilet per 20 employees, or fraction of 20, of each sex on a construction job site. Urinals can replace up to half the toilets. Crews with fewer than 5 employees can share 1 single-occupancy unit. The count applies to each sex separately.
| Workers of each sex | Toilets required (§1526) | Our practical count, 40-hr week |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 1 single-occupancy unit allowed | 1 |
| 5–20 | 1 | 1–2 |
| 21–40 | 2 | 3–4 |
| 41–60 | 3 | 5–6 |
| 61–80 | 4 | 7–8 |
Read the full section at dir.ca.gov — Title 8 §1526. For the Pass, that covers tract homes in Fairway Canyon, the Beaumont Pointe industrial build-out and work along the SR-60/Potrero interchange, which runs from May 2026 into 2028.
What does Cal/OSHA §3364 require for warehouses and permanent workplaces?
Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §3364 covers general industry: 1 toilet for 1–15 employees, 2 for 16–35, 3 for 36–55, 4 for 56–80, 5 for 81–110 and 6 for 111–150. Past 150, add 1 toilet per 40 employees. It applies when a building's own restrooms are down or too few.
| Employees | Toilets required (§3364) |
|---|---|
| 1–15 | 1 |
| 16–35 | 2 |
| 36–55 | 3 |
| 56–80 | 4 |
| 81–110 | 5 |
| 111–150 | 6 |
| Over 150 | Add 1 per 40 |
Source: dir.ca.gov — Title 8 §3364. About 1 in 15 of the calls we reviewed came from facility outages — sewer collapses, water-main breaks, failed septic. See industrial and warehouse restrooms.
What are the Cal/OSHA field sanitation rules for farm crews?
Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §3457 requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility per 20 field workers, separate for each sex, within a quarter mile or a 5-minute walk, whichever is shorter. Employers keep service records for 2 years. Orchard crews in Cherry Valley and Oak Glen often need units moved as picking moves.
| Field workers | Toilets | Handwash |
|---|---|---|
| 1–20 | 1 | 1 |
| 21–40 | 2 | 2 |
| 41–60 | 3 | 3 |
| 61–80 | 4 | 4 |
Source: dir.ca.gov — Title 8 §3457. Our trucks run scheduled routes to Oak Glen and canyon ranches; book 2–3 days ahead. More on farm and ranch porta potty rental.
Does the Cal/OSHA heat rule affect job-site restrooms?
Yes. Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §3395 requires 1 quart of water per employee per hour, shade once it passes 80°F and high-heat steps at 95°F. Beaumont averages 96.3°F in July, so crews drink more and use restrooms more. We suggest a second weekly service for crews over 10 in summer.
- Water
- 1 quart per worker per hour, §3395
- Shade
- Required above 80°F
- High-heat procedures
- Start at 95°F
- Restroom tie-in
- Place units near shade and water so workers are not avoiding them
- Service
- Crews over 10: add a mid-week visit June–September
Source: dir.ca.gov — Title 8 §3395.
Starting a job in the Pass this week?
Tell the dispatcher your crew size and start date. We send units that meet the count, serviced weekly, often the same day if you call before noon.
What is the difference between the legal minimum and enough toilets?
The legal minimum is a floor, not a target. Cal/OSHA allows 20 workers per toilet, but a unit shared by 20 people for a 40-hour week fills fast. Our rule is 1 unit per about 10 workers with weekly service. That keeps a job-site toilet clean enough that crews actually use it.
| Situation | Cal/OSHA minimum | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel crew of 4 | 1 single-occupancy unit (§1526) | 1 unit, weekly service |
| Tract framing crew of 18 | 1 toilet (1 per 20 of each sex) | 2 units, weekly service; 3 in July–August |
| Warehouse build-out, 45 workers | 3 toilets if all one sex (§1526) | 5 units + 1 handwash station, weekly service |
| Office of 30 with broken plumbing | 2 toilets (§3364) | 2 units + 2 hand sinks per entrance |
| Orchard crew of 35 | 2 toilets + 2 handwash within ¼ mile or 5 min (§3457) | 2 units + 2 handwash, split between rows |
How do I check that a porta potty company is legally hauling waste?
Ask if the company's pump trucks are registered under Riverside County Ordinance 712, which covers chemical toilet and septage haulers. A registered hauler takes waste to approved disposal, not to a field. Beaumont Porta Potty has run county-registered trucks out of its Highway 60 yard since 2010.
- Ask who pumps the unitA broker may not know. The company that owns the truck should answer right away.
- Ask about registrationRiverside County lists hauler rules at rcwaste.rivco.gov.
- Ask where waste goesApproved disposal only. It is never dumped on your property.
- Keep service recordsFarm crews must keep them for 2 years under §3457. Ask us for your service dates.
Is this guide legal advice?
No. This guide summarizes 4 Cal/OSHA sections as we read them in October 2026 so you can plan a rental. It is not legal advice. Your safety officer, general contractor or Cal/OSHA itself has the final word. Confirm your count with them, then call us with the number.
See also construction site toilets and the unit calculator with all three Cal/OSHA tables.