Cal/OSHA Lowers Fall Protection Height for Residential Work: How to Stay Compliant in 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, residential construction contractors in California must comply with updated fall protection regulations from the California state-level Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA). The agency has officially lowered the fall protection trigger height from 15 feet to 6 feet for most residential roofing and framing activities. This change aligns California’s safety standards with those of federal OSHA and expands the scenarios where employers must provide fall protection for workers at height.

What is Cal/OSHA?

Technically, Cal/OSHA—sometimes spelled “Cal-OSHA”—is a unit within the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), which operates under the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The DIR is part of the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). Established in 1973, Cal/OSHA’s mission is, in its own words, to “protect and improve the health and safety of working men and women in California and the safety of passengers riding on elevators, amusement rides, and tramways.”

Cal/OSHA vs. Federal OSHA

Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA both work to protect workers, but on different levels. Federal OSHA sets broad workplace safety rules for the country and is part of the US Department of Labor. Cal/OSHA, by contrast, is California’s own workplace safety program. While it follows the basic rules set by federal OSHA, Cal/OSHA sometimes adds stricter safety requirements to better protect workers in California. This means that if you’re working in California, you must follow Cal/OSHA rules.

Regarding fall safety, both Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA require fall protection to prevent injuries when workers are at risk of falling, but Cal/OSHA often has stricter and more detailed rules. While federal OSHA sets minimum standards—such as requiring fall protection at 6 feet in construction and 4 feet in general industry—Cal/OSHA may add specific requirements for equipment, training, and when alternative methods can be used. In many cases, Cal/OSHA applies tougher safety rules to better protect workers in California.

It’s important to know that federal OSHA does not override Cal/OSHA in California. Cal/OSHA runs a state-approved program that must be at least as strict as federal rules. In California, employers must follow Cal/OSHA regulations.

Breaking Down the New Cal/OSHA Changes to Residential Roofing

Starting July 1, 2025, if your crew is working 6 feet or more above the ground or floor, you are required to provide fall protection. This includes using any of the following:

●   Guardrails

●   Safety nets

●   Scaffolding

●   Personal fall arrest systems

If those options are not possible, a fall protection plan must be in place, which includes trained safety monitors and controlled access zones to keep workers safe.

For interior framing work between 6 and 15 feet, employers may use a fall protection plan instead of conventional methods only if specific safety conditions are met. These include: the structural members must be braced or laid flat during installation, any gaps between them must be 24 inches or less or covered with plywood, and workers must stay at least 6 feet away from any unprotected edge.

When performing framed wall layout and construction on floors 6 feet or higher, fall protection is required. This applies even if the walls will eventually enclose the space. Workers must use harnesses, nets, rails, scaffolding, or follow a fall protection plan if standard methods aren’t possible.

For roofing tasks like installing starter boards, roof sheathing, or fascia, fall protection must be used when workers are 6 feet or more above the ground. If using standard systems is not feasible, a fall protection plan with safety monitors and restricted access zones must be used.

When working outside the gable end truss or rafter at heights of 6 feet or more, employees must also be protected using standard fall protection methods or a monitored safety plan when needed.

Lastly, for low-slope roofs with a pitch between 0:12 and 7:12, fall protection is required when the fall distance is 6 feet or more. These include harnesses, guardrails, safety nets, scaffolding, or, if those aren’t feasible, a properly implemented safety plan with trained monitors.

You can read the full document online for a thorough description on the Cal/OSHA website.

More Changes are Coming

The new fall protection rule for residential roofing is just the beginning. Cal/OSHA has announced that similar updates will soon apply to a broader range of construction work. In 2026, the agency plans to lower the fall protection trigger height for all construction activities. Employers should begin preparing now for stricter requirements in the near future.

Simple Ways to Comply with Cal/OSHA’s New Rules

While Cal/OSHA’s new 6-foot trigger height is a big change, many fall protection solutions are already available, especially for roofing work. One of the easiest ways to get compliant is to use a roofer’s kit, which bundles the essential equipment needed for fall arrest. These kits usually include a full-body harness and a lanyard, and many also come with a vertical lifeline, an anchor, and a carrying bag for easy transport.

Using these all-in-one kits helps crews stay safe and meet Cal/OSHA’s updated requirements.