Georgia reference · Updated 2026-08-21
OSHA Porta Potty Requirements on Georgia Construction Sites
The short answer
Georgia construction sites need one toilet per 20 workers for crews of 20 or fewer, then one additional toilet per 40 workers above that, and one additional per 50 workers once the crew exceeds 200. Units must be serviced weekly. The rule most sites miss: shifts lasting longer than eight hours double the number of units required.
Work out your number
This applies Georgia’s own tables and adjustments. Nothing is estimated.
Calculated from Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-6-.08 Appendix Table 2. The table assumes units are serviced daily, and accessible units are provided per the Georgia Accessibility Code. Crowd sizes between rows round up to the next row. Call (470) 431-3553 to turn this into a quote.
What does Georgia require on a construction site?
Georgia adopts the OSHA construction sanitation table directly, and requires that the units come from a certified portable sanitation company under a service contract the site owner can produce.
Rule 511-3-6-.03(7)(b) states that the minimum number of units required during anticipated peak attendance at a construction site is determined in accordance with the most current OSHA regulations for toilets at construction sites, reproduced as Appendix Table 1, after taking into account any sewered seated or urinal toilets present on the site.
The federal standard behind it is 29 CFR 1926.51(c)(1). Georgia layers two additional obligations on top: the units must be furnished by a certified portable sanitation contractor or company holding a current Waste Removal and Disposal Permit, and the construction site owner must show proof of a service contract with that company.
That last point is the one that catches general contractors. If an inspector or an owner's representative asks for the service contract, it is the site owner who must produce it, not the subcontractor who ordered the units.
How is the worker count determined?
By the maximum number of workers present on a regular 8-hour shift, not by headcount on the payroll or total workers across the project.
This is a peak-presence measure. A project with 200 people on the books but never more than 60 on site at once sizes against 60. The relevant question is how many bodies are on the ground during the busiest regular shift.
Then comes the rule that most sites overlook entirely. Georgia's Appendix Table 1 states that shifts lasting longer than eight hours, meaning beyond a 40-hour work week pattern, should double the number of portable sanitation units. On a site running ten-hour days, a crew of 60 does not need 2 units, it needs 4.
Sewered toilets already on the site reduce the requirement. On a renovation where the building's existing restrooms remain in service, or a site with a temporary construction trailer connected to sewer, those fixtures count against the portable requirement.
What does servicing mean, and how often?
Georgia defines servicing as the emptying of waste and the cleaning of the portable sanitation unit, and Appendix Table 1 specifies weekly servicing.
Weekly is the baseline the table assumes, not a ceiling. On a Georgia site in July, with a full crew and units in direct sun, weekly service is often the floor rather than the target. Sites with high headcount per unit, food service on site, or extended shifts commonly need twice-weekly service to stay usable.
Two OSHA provisions materially change the arithmetic. First, toilets in an unsanitary condition do not count toward meeting the minimum number requirements, so a site with the right number of units on paper can still be non-compliant if servicing has lapsed. Second, the requirements do not apply to mobile crews with transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities, which is a genuine exemption for roving work but not for a fixed site.
Under temporary field conditions, provisions must still be made to assure that not less than one toilet facility is available.
- Servicing means emptying the waste and cleaning the unit, per Georgia rule.
- Appendix Table 1 assumes weekly servicing at the stated unit counts.
- Unsanitary units do not count toward the minimum requirement.
- Mobile crews with ready transportation to nearby facilities are exempt.
- Temporary field conditions still require at least one facility.
What about handwashing on Georgia job sites?
Portable hand washing fixtures are regulated units in their own right, and must hold soap and paper towels adequate for the full interval between services.
Georgia defines a portable hand washing fixture as any portable fixture containing fresh water, soap and disposable towels used for cleaning an individual's hands, placing it squarely inside the same chapter as the toilets rather than treating it as an accessory.
The supply requirement is where sites fall short. Each fixture must be sufficiently supplied with soap and paper towels adequate for the duration between servicing. A station stocked for a day but serviced weekly is out of compliance by Tuesday, and on a large crew that is a predictable failure, not an accident.
Water quality is regulated too: fresh water tanks on service vehicles must be filled with potable water only, and every fresh water tank on a service vehicle or affixed to a hand wash fixture must be labelled with the international Do Not Drink symbol.
Table 1 — Minimum Number of Portable Sanitation Units at Construction Sites
The number of units required is determined by the maximum number of workers present on a regular 8-hour shift.
| Number of workers | Minimum number of units, serviced weekly |
|---|---|
| 20 or less | 1 toilet per 20 workers |
| 21 or more | 1 additional toilet per 40 workers |
| 200 or more | 1 additional toilet per 50 workers |
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-6-.08, Appendix Table 1, adopting 29 CFR 1926.51
Long shifts: Shifts lasting longer than 8 hours (40 hour work week) should double the number of portable sanitation units.
Sewered toilet credit: Determined after taking into consideration any sewered seated or urinal toilets that may be present at the construction site.
Servicing: Weekly. Servicing refers to the emptying of waste and the cleaning of the portable sanitation unit.
- Toilets in an unsanitary condition do not count toward meeting the minimum number requirements.
- The requirements do not apply to mobile crews having transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities.
- Under temporary field conditions, provisions shall be made to assure not less than one toilet facility is available.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this rule
How many porta potties does OSHA require for 50 workers?
For a crew of 50 on a regular 8-hour shift, the table gives one facility for the first 20 workers plus one additional toilet per 40 workers above that, which works out to 2 units. If shifts run longer than eight hours, Georgia's Appendix Table 1 doubles that to 4. Subtract any sewered seated or urinal toilets already available on the site.
Does Georgia require handwashing stations on construction sites?
Georgia regulates portable hand washing fixtures under the same chapter as portable toilets, including requirements for potable water, Do Not Drink labelling, and soap and towel supply adequate for the full servicing interval. Whether a fixture is mandatory for your specific site depends on the work being performed and applicable OSHA sanitation provisions, so confirm with your safety lead and the county Health Authority.
Do porta potties on a construction site have to be cleaned weekly?
Georgia's Appendix Table 1 states that the listed minimum unit counts assume units serviced weekly, where servicing means emptying the waste and cleaning the unit. Weekly is the assumption behind the numbers, not a maximum interval. Note also that under OSHA, toilets in an unsanitary condition do not count toward the minimum requirement at all.
Are mobile crews exempt from job site toilet requirements?
OSHA provides that the requirements do not apply to mobile crews having transportation readily available to nearby toilet facilities. The exemption turns on genuine ready access, a crew that must drive a significant distance, or that works where no facilities are open during the shift, is not covered by it.
Who is responsible for the porta potties on a Georgia job site, the GC or the sub?
Georgia rule 511-3-6-.03(5) places the service contract obligation on the construction site owner. Separately, the property owner is named as responsible for prohibited discharge and for ensuring units are used only for human excreta. Contractually, responsibility for ordering and paying may sit with a GC or sub, but the regulatory duties named in the rule attach to the site and property owner.
Sources
- Rules of the Georgia Department of Public Health, Chapter 511-3-6 — Portable Sanitation Contractors — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-6. Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-6, 31-12-8, 31-27-9, 12-8-1.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c)(1) — Sanitation, construction
- Georgia Department of Public Health, State Environmental Health Office — (404) 657-6534
Content on this page reproduces public regulatory text for reference. It is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your county Health Authority and permit office before relying on them. Page last reviewed 2026-08-21.
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Related services
Where this applies
Other guides
- Georgia Portable Toilet Regulations (Rule 511-3-6)
- How Many Porta Potties Do I Need? (Georgia Table)
- Georgia Special Event Permits & Portable Toilets
- How to Verify a Georgia Porta Potty Company
Questions about applying this to your job? Call (470) 431-3553