Short answer: California job sites need at least one toilet per 20 employees or fraction thereof of each sex (8 CCR §1526) and one washing station per 20 employees, placed so workers can wash right after using the toilet (8 CCR §1527). Toilets must be clean, private and stocked with toilet paper.
Why California sites follow Cal/OSHA, not just federal OSHA
California runs its own OSHA state plan. Cal/OSHA’s construction safety orders in Title 8 apply to most private job sites in Brentwood, Antioch, Tracy and the rest of our service area. Federal 29 CFR 1926.51 sets the national baseline; Cal/OSHA’s rule is stricter in one important way—it counts each sex separately.
The toilet count, with real crews
| Crew | Cal/OSHA §1526 minimum | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 8 men | 1 | 8 ÷ 20 rounds up to 1 |
| 20 men | 1 | exactly 20 |
| 21 men | 2 | “or fraction thereof” |
| 18 men + 3 women | 2 | 1 for each sex |
| 45 men + 6 women | 4 | 3 + 1 |
§1526(b) adds that under temporary field conditions, “not less than one toilet shall be available.” §1526(d) requires that toilets be kept clean, in good working order, designed for privacy and supplied with toilet paper. Mobile crews with ready transport to nearby toilets can be exempt under §1526(e).
Washing stations (§1527)
- One washing station for every 20 employees or fraction thereof.
- Located so that “any time a toilet is used, the user can readily wash.”
- Water, soap and single-use towels or warm-air dryers.
- With non-water-carriage (portable) toilets, the station goes outside the toilet and is signed—except where fewer than 5 employees share one facility.
For most crews that means a two-user hand-wash station beside each toilet cluster, or a toilet with an internal sink for very small crews.
Legal minimum vs. what works in practice
The rule counts heads, not hours. A 60-gallon unit serviced weekly comfortably serves about 10 workers on 40-hour weeks. That’s our planning figure, not a legal requirement: 25 men need 2 toilets by law, but we’d suggest 3 with weekly service—or 2 with twice-weekly service.
Heat and servicing in East County
From May through September, Brentwood, Oakley and Tracy sites regularly pass 100°F. Odor builds faster in heat, so weekly service is the minimum we recommend, and placing units out of afternoon sun helps. Keep a truck-width path to the unit; a blocked unit can’t be serviced.
Cost example
A real construction quote: $247.20 for the first 28 days (delivery included), $205 per later 4-week period, $29 removal, with weekly cleaning. See the pricing guide.
Sources: 8 CCR §1526; 8 CCR §1527; 29 CFR 1926.51. Summary only—not legal advice.
Web storyCal/OSHA job-site toilet checklistTitle 8 §1526 and §1527 in plain English: toilets per worker, washing stations, privacy and servicing for California crews.