OSHA Toilet Requirements for Construction Sites
How many toilets OSHA requires on a construction site, what counts, and how we size crews in practice.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c) Table D-1 requires at least 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers. At 20 or more workers, the rule is 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. At 200 or more, it drops to 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50. Washing facilities fall under 1926.51(f).
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What are the OSHA toilet requirements for a construction site?
The OSHA toilet requirements for a construction site come from 29 CFR 1926.51(c)(1), Table D-1. A site with 20 or fewer workers needs at least 1 toilet. A site with 20 or more needs 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. A site with 200 or more needs 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50.
| Number of employees | Minimum number of facilities |
|---|---|
| 20 or less | 1 |
| 20 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 200 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers |
Count everyone who works on the site on a normal day, including subcontractors. Most general contractors plan for the busiest week, not the average week. The table counts at the employer level, so talk with your subs about who supplies what.
Section 1926.51(c)(2) adds that under temporary field conditions, at least one toilet facility must be available.
What counts as a toilet under 1926.51?
Under 1926.51(c)(3), a jobsite without a sanitary sewer must have privies, chemical toilets, recirculating toilets or combustion toilets, unless local codes prohibit them. A standard porta potty is a chemical toilet. One standard unit holds one toilet seat and one urinal, which lines up with how Table D-1 counts.
A working bathroom in the building can count when the plumbing is on and crew use is allowed. Once water is shut off for demolition or tie-ins, plan on a portable unit.
Our standard unit is based on the PolyJohn PJN3: 43.5 inches wide, 47 inches deep, with a 60-gallon holding tank. Read the full specs on the construction site toilets page.
What does OSHA say about handwashing on a jobsite?
OSHA covers jobsite handwashing in 1926.51(f). Employers must provide adequate washing facilities near the work for crews applying paints, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, or handling other harmful contaminants. Washing facilities must be kept sanitary. The lavatory rules in 1926.51(f)(3) call for soap and individual towels.
Every standard unit has a hand sanitizer dispenser inside. Sanitizer does not remove paint, adhesive or concrete, so crews doing that work need water and soap.
A free-standing handwashing station gives two foot-pump sinks with soap and paper towels and needs no power. Ask your safety lead how your company applies the lavatory rules to your site.
Do mobile crews need a porta potty?
Mobile crews can be exempt. Section 1926.51(c)(4) says the toilet requirements of paragraph (c) "shall not apply to mobile crews having transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities." The crew needs a vehicle on hand and a real restroom it can reach quickly. A crew parked at one address for weeks rarely fits.
Paving, utility locate, line-striping and landscaping crews often move several times a day. A small crew building a house sits in one spot for months. If you are unsure, a single unit on a 28-day cycle is cheaper than a complaint.
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How many porta potties do we recommend per worker?
Mathew Rental Works recommends 1 standard porta potty per 10 workers on a 40-hour week with weekly service. That recommendation is a comfort level, not the legal minimum in Table D-1. Above 10 workers per unit, add a second service day each week so the 60-gallon tank never fills.
The legal minimum keeps you out of trouble. Our number keeps lines short at break time and keeps the unit usable on Friday afternoon. Long shifts, Saturday work and hot weather all push use higher.
This guide explains the rule as written and how we size orders. It is not legal advice. Confirm your duties with your safety officer, your general contractor or OSHA.
How many toilets does a crew of 8, 25, 45 or 210 need?
A crew of 8 needs 1 toilet under Table D-1. A crew of 25 needs 1 seat and 1 urinal. A crew of 45 needs 2 seats and 2 urinals. A crew of 210 needs 5 seats and 5 urinals at the 1-per-50 rate. Our weekly-service recommendation runs 1, 3, 5 and 21 standard units.
| Crew size | OSHA minimum | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 8 workers | 1 toilet | 1 standard unit |
| 25 workers | 1 seat and 1 urinal | 3 standard units |
| 45 workers | 2 seats and 2 urinals | 5 standard units |
| 210 workers | 5 seats and 5 urinals | 21 standard units |
The gap between the two columns is real. A 25-person crew sharing one unit will fill a 60-gallon tank fast. Fewer units with twice-weekly service is another option, and we quote extra visits per visit.
Use the porta potty calculator for crews that change size during the job.
How often should a jobsite porta potty be serviced?
A jobsite porta potty should be serviced at least weekly. Every Mathew Rental Works 28-day rental includes one weekly service: pump-out, cleaning and sanitizing, blue deodorizer refill, and a toilet paper and hand sanitizer restock. Big crews add a second visit each week, quoted per visit, to keep tanks from filling.
Read how billing and pickup work on monthly porta potty rentals. Keep the path to the unit clear so the service truck can park within about 25 feet. A standard unit on a 28-day cycle with weekly service has a typical starting price of $150 per 28 days, before tax; your itemized quote is final. See the full breakdown on the porta potty rental cost page.
Jobsite toilet rule questions
Does OSHA require separate toilets for men and women on a jobsite?
Table D-1 in 1926.51 counts toilets by number of workers and does not set a separate count by sex. Many contractors still mark one unit for women on larger sites. A standard porta potty has an occupancy latch, so each unit is private while in use.
How far can the porta potty be from where my crew works?
Section 1926.51(c) does not give a walking distance for construction toilets. The practical answer is close enough that workers do not lose time or skip the trip. On a big site, split units between work zones instead of grouping them all at the gate.
Can a crew just use the restroom at the gas station down the road?
The mobile crew exception in 1926.51(c)(4) covers crews that have transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities. Road, utility and landscaping crews that move all day often fit. A crew parked at one address for days or weeks usually needs a toilet on site.
Does a toilet inside the house we are working on count?
A working bathroom inside the building can count when the owner allows crew use and the plumbing stays on. Many homeowners say no once a remodel starts, and water shutoffs end that option. Ask before the job begins so you can order a unit in time.
Will OSHA fine us if the porta potty is dirty?
Section 1926.51 requires sanitation facilities, and washing facilities must be kept in a sanitary condition under 1926.51(f)(2). An overflowing unit is a health problem and a complaint risk. Our 28-day rentals include weekly pump-out, cleaning and restocking, and extra visits can be added.
Mathew, owner of Mathew Rental Works
Mathew runs dispatch, routing and servicing from the Mathew Rental Works yard at 1756 Tennessee Ave in Bond Hill, Cincinnati. He checked this page against how our crews deliver, service and pick up units.
Questions about your site? Call him at (513) 270-1174, Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. More about us.
Get OSHA-sized jobsite toilets in Cincinnati
Tell us your crew size, start date and site address. We send one itemized 28-day price with weekly service included.
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(513) 270-1174Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Quote requests answered within 1 business hour. Call before 12 p.m. for same-day delivery on most Greater Cincinnati orders.
Mathew Rental Works
1756 Tennessee Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229