Rules guide · not legal advice
OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for Job Sites and Farms
The exact federal rules that decide how many toilets and wash stations a Nebraska crew needs, with links to the official text.
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How many toilets does OSHA require on a construction site?
OSHA requires 1 toilet for 20 or fewer construction workers under 29 CFR 1926.51(c), Table D-1. With 20 or more workers, the rule calls for 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. With 200 or more, it calls for 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers. Toilets must be cleaned and kept sanitary.
| Number of employees | Minimum number of facilities (Table D-1) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Official text: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51. The rule does not apply to mobile crews that have transportation readily available to nearby toilets.
Does OSHA require hand-washing stations on job sites?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(f) requires washing facilities on construction sites where workers apply paint, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, or work with other harmful contaminants. The facilities must be kept sanitary and supplied with water, soap and towels or dryers. Many general contractors require wash stations on every site anyway.
What does OSHA require for farm field crews?
OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110 requires agricultural employers with 11 or more hand-laborers in the field on a given day to provide 1 toilet and 1 hand-washing facility for every 20 workers. Both must sit within a quarter-mile walk of each worker, or at the closest vehicle access point. Drinking water is also required.
Official text: OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110. Detasseling and hand-harvest crews in central Nebraska often fall under this rule. See farm rentals.
What is the legal minimum versus what we recommend?
The legal minimum is the smallest count that meets OSHA's table. Our recommendation is the count that stays clean for a full week between cleanings: about 1 unit per 10 workers on a 40-hour week. A 30-person crew meets the law with 1 seat and 1 urinal, but realistically needs 3 units cleaned weekly.
Use the calculator to see both numbers for your crew size. This guide summarizes federal rules and is not legal advice. Confirm with your safety officer, general contractor or permit office.
OSHA questions
Does OSHA require a porta potty on a residential job site?
OSHA requires toilets for employees on any construction site, including home builds and remodels, under 29 CFR 1926.51(c). The exception is a mobile crew with transportation readily available to nearby toilets. A homeowner doing their own work is not covered.
Can my crew use the homeowner's bathroom instead?
A crew can use an existing bathroom only if the homeowner agrees and it stays available the whole job. Most remodels shut off water or tear out that bathroom, so a unit is the safe choice.
Is Nebraska a state-plan OSHA state?
Nebraska private employers fall under federal OSHA, not a state plan. Federal rules 1926.51 for construction and 1928.110 for agriculture apply as written. Check local rules with your city or county as well.
Get your itemized quote
The fastest way to get a OSHA/job site quote is to call (402) 313-6717 and talk to the person who schedules the trucks. If you prefer to type, send the six details in the form. We reply within one business hour with a single price that lists the unit, delivery, pickup, cleaning and tax.
Need your site up to code?
Tell us your crew size and we will match it to the table.