How many porta potties does a construction site need in California?
A California construction site needs at least 1 toilet for every 20 workers under Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 1526. A crew of 1 to 20 needs 1 toilet, a crew of 21 to 40 needs 2, and a crew of 41 to 60 needs 3. Federal OSHA allows fewer, but California's rule is the one inspectors here apply.
| Workers on site | Cal/OSHA minimum (8 CCR 1526) | Federal OSHA minimum (1926.51) | Our recommendation, weekly service, 40-hr week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 1 toilet | 1 toilet | 1 unit |
| 11–20 | 1 toilet | 1 toilet | 2 units |
| 21–40 | 2 toilets | 1 seat + 1 urinal | 3–4 units |
| 41–60 | 3 toilets | 2 seats + 2 urinals | 5–6 units |
| 61–100 | 4–5 toilets | 3 seats + 3 urinals | 7–10 units |
The legal minimum and our recommendation are different numbers. Our recommendation of 1 unit per 10 workers keeps a unit from filling before the weekly service. Crews working 50–60 hours a week, or in July and August heat, should add one unit or a second weekly service. Read the rules yourself: Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 1526 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51. This is general information, not legal advice; your safety officer or inspector has the final word.
Hand washing on jobsites
Cal/OSHA Section 1527 requires washing facilities at construction sites. A two-sink hand washing station next to the toilets, or a flushing unit with a built-in sink, covers it for most small crews.
How does monthly construction porta potty billing work?
Construction porta potties are billed every 28 days, not every calendar month. Each 28-day cycle includes the unit and four weekly service visits. The first cycle also includes the one-time delivery charge. When the job ends, you call for pickup and billing stops on the pickup date.
- Standard construction unit from $189 per 28 days, weekly service included.
- One-time delivery from $60 inside 25 miles of Yuba City; pickup is free.
- Jobs shorter than 28 days use a weekly rate from $175, so a 6-day roof job is not billed a full cycle.
- A final partial cycle is billed by the week, not the full 28 days.
- No fuel surcharge, no card fee, no removal fee.
Full price factors are on the porta potty rental cost guide.
What does weekly jobsite service include?
Weekly jobsite service includes pumping the waste tank, scrubbing the seat, urinal, floor and walls, adding fresh blue deodorizer, and restocking toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The driver also checks the door, latch and vent, and logs the visit. Service runs on the same weekday every week.
Extra service before an inspection, a concrete pour with a big crew, or a hot week costs $65 per visit. Crews larger than the unit count call for twice-weekly service. See what happens on a service visit.
Where should a porta potty go on a jobsite?
A jobsite porta potty should sit on level, firm ground within about 15 feet of where the service truck can stop, at least 10 feet from the work zone and away from trench edges. On Yuba City lots, the best spot is usually the driveway apron or the curb side of the lot.
- Keep it out of the path of concrete trucks, forklifts and dumpster swaps.
- Face the door away from the street for privacy, or toward the work for convenience.
- On clay lots after rain, a sheet of plywood or a gravel pad stops sinking and tipping.
- Ask for a free combination lock if the site is open at night.
