Guide · Updated October 14, 2026
OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for Construction Sites
The exact federal rule, a table you can show your superintendent, and how to stay compliant on a Four Corners job site.
How many toilets does OSHA require on a construction site?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c), Table D-1, requires 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers. For 20 or more workers, the rule is 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. For 200 or more workers, it is 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers. Toilets must be available to every worker on site.
| Number of employees | Minimum facilities (OSHA Table D-1) |
|---|---|
| 20 or fewer | 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 |
Read the regulation at osha.gov.
Does one porta potty count as a toilet seat and a urinal?
One standard porta potty counts as 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal, because the unit has both. A 60-worker crew needs at least 2 toilet seats and 2 urinals under Table D-1 (60 ÷ 40 = 1.5, rounded up to 2), so 2 standard porta potties meet the legal minimum.
Why do contractors rent more porta potties than OSHA requires?
Contractors rent more porta potties than OSHA requires because the legal minimum assumes service often enough to keep units usable. A 60-gallon tank shared by 20 workers fills in about four days. With one weekly service, 1 unit per 10 workers keeps the unit usable all week; the extra unit costs less than a second weekly service.
| Crew size | OSHA minimum | Our weekly-service plan |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | 1 | 2 |
| 30 | 1 seat + 1 urinal | 3 |
| 60 | 2 seats + 2 urinals | 6 |
Does OSHA require hand washing stations on construction sites?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(f) requires washing facilities where workers apply paints, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, or work with other contaminants that can be harmful. The facilities must be near the work, kept sanitary and stocked with soap, water and towels. A two-sink hand washing station covers about 10 workers.
What about farm and ranch crews?
Farm field crews follow OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110, not the construction rule. Employers with 11 or more field workers must provide 1 toilet and 1 hand washing facility for every 20 workers, located within a quarter-mile walk of where the crew works. Spread-out harvest crews may need units moved as fields change.
Rule text: 29 CFR 1928.110.