Updated 2026-10-01
AB 521: the women's restroom rule for California construction sites
A 2023 California law pushed Cal/OSHA to fix one of the oldest complaints on job sites: shared units that women simply won't use. Here's what AB 521 does, where the rulemaking stands, and how to get ahead of it.
Quick answer
AB 521 (2023) directed Cal/OSHA to propose, and the Standards Board to consider, a rule requiring at least one single-user toilet designated for female and nonbinary workers on construction sites. The practical compliance step is one locked, signed unit per site, which is what our Women's Designated Unit ($199/month) or Compliance Pack ($479/month) provides.
What the law says
Assembly Bill 521 (Chapter 529, Statutes of 2023) amended the Labor Code to direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to draft a construction-industry standard requiring at least one single-user toilet facility designated for female and nonbinary employees, and to bring it to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for a vote. The bill's stated purpose: the existing 'per sex' ratio in §1526 was being met with unmarked, shared units that left women without a facility they would actually use.
The bill set a deadline for the Board to consider the proposal (end of 2025). Check the OSHSB's current rulemaking page for the adopted text and effective date before relying on specifics; the requirement's direction, however, is settled.
What changes on your site
In practice, compliance looks like this:
- One single-user toilet designated for female/nonbinary workers, in addition to the §1526 ratio for the rest of the crew.
- A working interior lock and clear exterior signage.
- Sanitary-product disposal inside the unit.
- Keys or an access policy so it isn't used as overflow by everyone else.
- Same servicing and handwash access as the other units.
Why it's worth doing now
Beyond the rule itself: general contractors and public owners increasingly write a women's facility into their site requirements, union agreements reference it, and it costs $199/month — less than one hour of a superintendent's time dealing with a complaint. Sites that already have it are also the ones that get photographed for the company website.
Our compliance pack bundles a standard unit, a women's designated unit and a handwash station for $479/month, which covers a crew of up to 20 under §1526, §1527 and AB 521 together.
Common questions from superintendents
Answers we give on the phone most often:
- 'There are no women on my crew.' Inspectors and GCs don't accept that; subcontractors rotate. One unit is cheap insurance.
- 'Can the ADA unit be the women's unit?' Not a good idea — the ADA unit must stay available for its purpose. Use a separate standard unit with a lock.
- 'Does it need a sink?' Not under AB 521 itself, but the §1527 handwash station must be near all toilets. A deluxe flushing unit with a sink covers both nicely.
- 'What about restroom trailers?' A trailer with a women's side satisfies the intent for larger sites and is common on urban high-rise jobs.
Frequently asked
Is AB 521 in effect?
AB 521 was signed in 2023 and directed Cal/OSHA to bring a standard to the Standards Board by the end of 2025. Verify the adopted regulation text and effective date on the OSHSB website; the requirement's direction is clear enough that most GCs already specify it.
What does a women's designated porta potty cost?
Our Women's Designated Unit is $199/month, including weekly service, keyed lock, signage and a sanitary-product bin. The compliance pack (standard + women's + handwash) is $479/month.
Does AB 521 apply to small residential jobs?
The statute targets construction sites generally; the Cal/OSHA standard sets the thresholds. Small crews (under 5) already have a single lockable-unit option under §1526, which largely satisfies the intent.
Can men use the women's designated unit?
That defeats the purpose and is what the law is fixing. Keep it keyed or clearly signed, and size the rest of the site so nobody needs to.
Want the exact number for your address?
ZIP + what you need + when. Thirty seconds, no callback.
Get instant price