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Earlier editions: 20222019

Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

504 Building Height and Number of Stories — 2025 California Building Code

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

Cite as: 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) § 504 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission

504.1 General.

The height, in feet, and the number of stories of a building shall be determined based on the type of construction, occupancy classification and whether there is an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout the building.

Exception: The building height of one-story aircraft hangars, aircraft paint hangars and buildings used for the manufacturing of aircraft shall not be limited where the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system or automatic fire-extinguishing system in accordance with Chapter 9 and is entirely surrounded by public ways or yards not less in width than one and one-half times the building height.

504.1.1 Unlimited area buildings. The height of unlimited area buildings shall be designed in accordance with Section 507.

504.1.2 Special provisions. The special provisions of Section 510 permit the use of special conditions that are exempt from, or modify, the specific requirements of this chapter regarding the allowable heights of buildings based on the occupancy classification and type of construction, provided the special condition complies with the provisions specified in Section 510.

5-4 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

Exceptions & meaning →

504.2 Mixed occupancy.

In a building containing mixed occupancies in accordance with Section 508, no individual occupancy shall exceed the height and number of story limits specified in this section for the applicable occupancies.

Exceptions & meaning →

504.3 Height in feet.

The maximum height, in feet, of a building shall not exceed the limits specified in Table 504.3.

Exception: Towers, spires, steeples and other rooftop structures shall be constructed of materials consistent with the required type of construction of the building except where other construction is permitted by Section 1511.2.4. Such structures shall not be used for habitation or storage. The structures shall be unlimited in height where of noncombustible materials and shall not extend more than 20 feet (6096 mm) above the allowable building height where of combustible materials (see Chapter 15 for additional requirements).

TABLE 504.3—ALLOWABLE BUILDING HEIGHT IN FEET ABOVE GRADE PLANEa, i

OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes Type I Type I Type II Type II Type III Type III Type IV Type IV Type IV Type IV Type V Type V
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes A B A B A B A B C HT A B
B, F, M, S, U NSb UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
B, F, M, S, U S UL 180 85 75 85 75 270 180 85 85 70 60
A, E NSb UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
A, E S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 270 180 85 85 70 60
A, E S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 250 160 65 65 50 40
H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5_, L_ NSc, d UL 160 65 55 65 55 120 90 85 65 50 40
H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5_, L_ S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase) S (without area increase)
H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5_, L_ S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 55 55 55 65 50 40
H-4 NSc, d UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
H-4 S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 140 100 85 85 70 60
H-4 S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 120 160 65 65 50 40
I-3 NSd, e UL 160 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S (without area increase) UL 180 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S (with area increase) UL 160 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-2 NSd, e, f UL 160 65 55 65 NP NP NP NP 65 50 NP
I-2 S (without area increase) UL 180 85 85 85 85 NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-2 S (with area increase) UL 160 65 65 65 65 NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-4 NSd, g UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
I-4 S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 180 120 85 85 70 60
I-4 S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 160 100 65 65 50 50
R_-1_h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
R_-1_h S13D 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 50 40
R_-1_h S13R 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60
R_-1_h S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 270 180 85 85 70 60
R_-1_h S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 250 160 65 65 50 40
R-2h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
R-2h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 60 60 60 50 40
R-2h S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 270 180 85 85 70 60
R-2h S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 250 160 65 65 60j 40
R-2.1h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 NP NP NP 50 40
R-2.1h S13D 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 NP NP NP 50 40
R-2.1h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 NP NP NP 50 40
R-2.1h S UL 160 65 55 65 55 270 NP NP NP 50 40
R-2.2h NSd NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
R-2.2h S (without area increase) UL 180 85 NP 85 NP 270 180 85 85 70 NP
R-2.2h S (with area increase) UL 160 65 NP 65 NP 250 160 65 65 60i NP
R-3, R-3.1h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
R-3, R-3.1h S13D 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 50 40
R-3, R-3.1h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 60 60 60 60 60
R-3, R-3.1h S UL 160 65 55 65 55 270 180 85 65 70 60
R-4h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 65 65 65 50 40
R-4h S13D 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 60 60 60 50 40
R-4h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 60 60 60 50 40
R-4h S UL 160 65 55 65 55 270 180 85 65 50 40

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

Exceptions & meaning →

504.4 Number of stories.

The maximum number of stories above grade plane of a building shall not exceed the limits specified in Table 504.4.

TABLE 504.4—ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANEa, b, n

OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes Type I Type I Type II Type II Type III Type III Type IV Type IV Type IV Type IV Type V Type V
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes A B A B A B A B C HT A B
A-1 NS UL 5 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 1
A-1 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 6 4 3 4 3 9 6 4 4 3 2
A-1 S (with area increase) UL 5 3 2 3 2 8 5 3 3 2 1
A-2 NS UL 11 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 1
A-2 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 4 3 4 3 18 12 6 4 3 2
A-2 S (with area increase) UL 11 3 2 3 2 17 11 5 3 2 1
A-3 NS UL 11 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 1
A-3 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 4 3 4 3 18 12 6 4 3 2
A-3 S (with area increase) UL 11 3 2 3 2 17 11 5 3 2 1
A-4 NS UL 11 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 1
A-4 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 4 3 4 3 18 12 6 4 3 2
A-4 S (with area increase) UL 11 3 2 3 2 17 11 5 3 2 1
A-5 NS UL UL UL UL UL UL 1 1 1 UL UL UL
A-5 S UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL
B NS UL 11 5 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 3 2
B S UL 12 6 4 6 4 18 12 9 6 4 3
E NS UL 5 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 1 1
E S_ (without area increase)_ UL 6 4 3 4 3 9 6 4 4 2 2
E S (with area increase) UL 5 3 2 3 2 8 7 3 3 1 1
F-1 NS UL 11 4 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 2 1
F-1 S UL 12 5 3 4 3 10 7 5 5 3 2
F-2 NS UL 11 5 3 4 3 5 5 5 5 3 2
F-2 S UL 12 6 4 5 4 12 8 6 6 4 3
H-1 NSc, d 1 1 1 1 1 1 NP NP NP 1 1 NP
H-1 S S S S S S S 1 1 1 1 1 1
H-2 NSc, d 20 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
H-2 S S S S S S S 2 2 2 2 2 2
H-3 NSc, d 20 6 4 2 4 2 3 3 3 4 2 1
H-3 S S S S S S S 4 4 4 4 4 4
H-4 NSc, d UL 7 5 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 3 2
H-4 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 8 6 4 6 4 8 7 6 6 4 3
H-4 S (with area increase) 20 7 5 3 5 3 7 6 5 5 3 2
H-5 NSc, d 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2
H-5 S S S S S S S 3 3 3 3 3 3
I-2_i, j_ NSd, f UL 4 2 1 1 NP NP NP NP 1 1 NP
I-2_i, j_ S_ (without area increase)_ UL 5 3 3 3 3 NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-2_i, j_ S (with area increase) UL 4 2 2 2 2 NP NP NP NP NP NP

5-6 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

TABLE 504.4—ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANEa, b, n—continued

OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes Type I Type I Type II Type II Type III Type III Type IV Type IV Type IV Type IV Type V Type V
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 See Footnotes A B A B A B A B C HT A B
I-3 NSd, e NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 5 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S (with area increase) UL 2 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-4_p_ NSd, g UL 5 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 1 1
I-4_p_ S_ (without area increase)_ UL 6 4 3 4 3 9 6 4 4 2 2
I-4_p_ S (with area increase) UL 5 3 2 3 2 8 5 3 3 1 1
L NS NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
L S 20 6 5 3 5 3 8 6 5 5 3 2
M NS UL 11 4 2 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 1
M S UL 12 5 3 5 3 12 8 6 5 4 2
R-1h NSd UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
R-1h S13R 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
R-1h S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 5 5 5 5 18 12 8 5 4 3
R-1h S (with area increase) UL 11 4 4 4 4 17 11 7 4 3 2
R-2h NSd UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
R-2h S13R 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
R-2h S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 5 5 5 5 18 12 8 5 4 3
R-2h S (with area increase) UL 11 4 4 4 4 17 11 7 4 4o 2
R-2.1h NSd UL 6l 3k NP 3k NP 4 NP NP NP 3k NP
R-2.1h S13R UL 4l 3k NP 3k NP 4 NP NP NP 3k NP
R-2.1h S UL 6l 3k NP 3k NP 10 NP NP NP 3k NP
R-2.2h NSd NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
R-2.2h S_ (without area increase)_ UL 12 _5 _ NP 5 NP 18 12 8 5 _4 _ NP
R-2.2h S (with area increase) UL 11 4 NP 4 NP 17 11 7 4 4o NP
R-3_, R-3.1_h NSd UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3
R-3_, R-3.1_h S13D 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3
R-3_, R-3.1_h S13R 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
R-3_, R-3.1_h S UL 12 5 5 5 5 18 12 5 5 4 4
R-4h NSd UL 11_l_ 4_k_ 4_m_ 4_k_ 4_m_ 4_m_ 4_m_ 4_m_ 4_m_ 3_k_ 2_m_
R-4h S13D 4 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 3_k_ 2_m_
R-4h S13R 4 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4_l_ 4 3
R-4h S UL 11l 5 5 5 5 11l 5 5 5 4 3
S-1 NS UL 11 4 2 3 2 4 4 4 4 3 1
S-1 S UL 12 5 4 4 4 10 7 5 5 4 2
S-2_i_ NS UL 11 5 3 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 2
S-2_i_ S UL 12 6 4 5 4 12 8 5 6 5 3
U NS UL 5 4 2 3 2 4 4 4 4 2 1
U S UL 6 5 3 4 3 9 6 5 5 3 2

UL = Unlimited; NP = Not Permitted; NS = Buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system; S = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler
system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1; S13R = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2;
S13D = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3.
a. See Chapters 4 and 5 for specific exceptions to the allowable height in this chapter.
b. See Section 903.2 for the minimum thresholds for protection by an automatic sprinkler system for specific occupancies.
c. New Group H occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.5.
d. The NS value is only for use in evaluation of existing building height in accordance with the_California Existing Building Code_.
e. New Group I-3 occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6.
f. New and existing Group I-2 occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6 and Section 1103.5 of the_California_
Fire Code.
g. For new Group I-4 occupancies, see Exceptions 2 and 3 of Section 903.2.6.
h. New Group R occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.8.
i. See Sections 407.1.1 and 408.1.2 for specific exceptions to construction type, allowable building areas and allowable heights.
j. Restraint shall not be permitted in any building except in Group I-3 occupancies constructed for such use (see Section 408.1.2).
k. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first 2 stories.
l. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first 5 stories.
m.Nonambulatory elderly clients are not permitted in buildings of these types of construction. See Sections 435.3.3 and 435.3.4.
n. In other than Group A, E, H, I, L and R occupancies, high-rise buildings, and other applications listed in Section 1.11 regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the S increases
for height and stories in Tables 504.3 and 504.4 are permitted in addition to the S area increase in accordance with Table 506.2.
o. For Group R-2 buildings of Type VA construction equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, S area increase is permit-
ted in addition to the height and story increase provided the height shall not exceed 60 feet and 4 stories.
p. See Section 436.1 for additional regulations for child-care centers and adult day care.

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)

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