Job site rules
OSHA Porta Potty Requirements on Texas Job Sites, Explained
OSHA porta potty requirements for Texas job sites, in plain words: the exact Table D-1 counts, the handwashing rule, farm rules, and how many units a crew really needs.
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Legal minimum
1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers; then 1 seat + 1 urinal per 40 workers.
Texas
No state plan for private employers. Federal OSHA applies.
Farms
1 toilet + 1 handwashing facility per 20 field workers, within a quarter mile.
Our advice
About 1 unit per 10 workers on a 40-hour week with weekly service.
- Same dayCall by 12 PM, Mon–Sat
- WeeklyService included on 28-day rentals
- 22 cities5 North Texas counties
- All-inNo fuel or removal fees
- Local yard207 W Erwin Ave, McKinney
What does OSHA require for porta potties on a construction site?
OSHA rule 29 CFR 1926.51(c) Table D-1 sets the minimum. A site with 20 or fewer workers needs 1 toilet. Over 20 workers, you need 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. At 200 or more, it is 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers.
| Number of employees | Minimum 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 |
A standard unit from us has 1 seat and 1 urinal, so one unit counts toward both. This page explains the rule; it is not legal advice. Your safety officer has the final word.
Does Texas have its own porta potty rules for job sites?
No. Texas has no OSHA-approved state plan for private employers, so federal OSHA rules apply to private job sites in Texas. That means 29 CFR 1926.51 covers every private construction site in McKinney, Frisco or Dallas. Your city or general contractor can still add rules, so check your permit and contract.
Texas state and local government workers are not covered by federal OSHA. Private employers are. Our job site toilet rental page covers delivery and service for builders.
Does OSHA require handwashing stations on job sites?
OSHA rule 29 CFR 1926.51(f) requires adequate washing facilities when workers apply paint, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, or handle other harmful contaminants. The wash spot must be near the work. On a general site, we suggest 1 hand wash station for crews over 20 workers, or a sink unit for smaller crews.
| Situation | What the rule or practice calls for | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| Painting, coatings, herbicides | Washing facilities near the work, 1926.51(f) | 2-sink hand wash station |
| Crew of 20 or fewer | Toilet minimum only | Standard unit with built-in sink |
| Crew over 20 | Toilet minimum; wash station strongly advised | 1 hand wash station per cluster |
| Food truck or lunch area on site | Good practice | Station within sight of the food |
What are the porta potty rules for Texas farms?
Farms follow a different OSHA rule: 29 CFR 1928.110. It requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility for every 20 field workers, or fraction of 20. Both must be within a quarter-mile walk of each worker. The rule covers farms with 11 or more hand laborers in the field on any day.
For harvest crews and pick-your-own farms, see seasonal porta potty rentals. Towable units help when the crew moves field to field.
What is the legal minimum vs what a crew really needs?
The legal minimum is often too low for comfort. OSHA allows 1 toilet for up to 20 workers. Our dispatch notes show 1 standard unit with weekly service handles about 8 to 10 workers on a 40-hour week. Past that, the tank fills early and the unit smells by midweek.
| Workers on site | OSHA legal minimum | Our recommendation (40-hour week, weekly service) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 1 toilet | 1 standard unit |
| 11–20 | 1 toilet | 2 standard units |
| 21–40 | 1 seat + 1 urinal | 3–4 units + 1 hand wash station |
| 41–80 | 2 seats + 2 urinals | 5–8 units + 1–2 hand wash stations |
| 81–200 | 3–5 seats + urinals (per 40) | 9–20 units, or about half as many with twice-weekly service |
| 200+ | 1 seat + 1 urinal per 50 | 1 unit per 10, or about 1 per 20 with twice-weekly service |
Use the porta potty sizing calculator to run your own crew size.
How many porta potties for 8, 25, 60 or 220 workers?
For 8 workers, OSHA requires 1 toilet and we send 1 unit. For 25 workers, the minimum is 1 seat and 1 urinal; we send 3 units. For 60 workers, it is 2 seats and 2 urinals; we send 6. For 220 workers, it is 5 seats and 5 urinals; we send 22, or 11 with twice-weekly service.
| Crew | OSHA math | Legal minimum | What we would send |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 workers | 20 or less | 1 toilet | 1 standard unit, weekly service |
| 25 workers | 25 ÷ 40 = 0.6, round up | 1 seat + 1 urinal | 3 standard units + 1 hand wash station |
| 60 workers | 60 ÷ 40 = 1.5, round up | 2 seats + 2 urinals | 6 standard units + 2 hand wash stations |
| 220 workers | 220 ÷ 50 = 4.4, round up | 5 seats + 5 urinals | 22 units weekly, or about 11 with twice-weekly service |
Where should job site porta potties go, and how often are they serviced?
Place job site porta potties on firm, level ground within about 50 feet of where our truck can park. Keep them close to the work but out of the way of equipment. Weekly service is included on 28-day rentals. From June to September, sites with more than 10 workers per unit should go twice weekly.
- Firm, level ground; gravel or a pad beats bare clay after rain.
- Within about 50 ft of a spot our truck can reach on every visit.
- Away from forklift paths, trench edges and material drops.
- Staked or strapped on open sites during spring storm season (March–June).
- Shade when possible from June to September.
- Twice-weekly service is +$60 per 28-day cycle; an extra visit is $55.
Summer sites: read how heat changes the service schedule.
OSHA job site toilet questions
Straight answers from the dispatch desk. Not covered here? Call (469) 326-5635.
Does a standard porta potty count as a toilet and a urinal for OSHA?
Our standard unit has 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal, so it counts toward both numbers in Table D-1. Confirm with your safety officer for your site.
Do I need a porta potty if my crew drives to a gas station?
OSHA exempts mobile crews with transportation readily available to nearby toilets. A fixed site with a working crew needs at least 1 toilet.
Do subcontractors count toward the worker total?
Count everyone who uses the site toilets on a normal day. Many general contractors size for the peak crew. Ask your GC how the contract splits it.
Is a sink unit enough for painters?
1926.51(f) asks for washing facilities near the work when workers handle paint, coatings or other harmful contaminants. For a crew over 20, add a 2-sink hand wash station.
Can OSHA fine me for a dirty porta potty?
OSHA requires sanitary facilities, so a full or broken unit can be cited. Weekly service, or twice weekly in summer, keeps the unit usable.
Get a crew-sized quote for your job site
Calling is the fastest way to book. Justin's dispatch desk at 207 W Erwin Ave answers Mon–Sat 7 AM–7 PM, checks the route for your ZIP while you're on the phone and reads you the full price before you pay.
(469) 326-5635- Local yard in McKinney, not a call center
- All-in quote: unit, delivery, pickup and servicing
- No fuel surcharge, no removal fee