Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

Section 510 — SPECIAL PROVISIONS

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · California

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510.1 General.

510.1 General. The provisions in Sections 510.2 through 510.9 shall permit the use of special conditions that are exempt from, or modify, the specific requirements of this chapter regarding the allowable building heights and areas of buildings based on the occupancy classification and type of construction, provided the special condition complies with the provisions specified in this section for such condition and other applicable requirements of this code. The provisions of Sections 510.2 through 510.8 are to be considered independent and separate from each other.

510.2 Horizontal building separation allowance.

510.2 Horizontal building separation allowance. A building shall be considered as separate and distinct buildings for the purpose of determining area limitations, continuity of fire walls, limitation of number of stories and type of construction where the following conditions are met: 1. The buildings are separated with a horizontal assembly having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 3 hours. Where a horizontal assembly contains vertical offsets, the vertical offset shall be constructed as a fire barrier in accordance with Section 707 and shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less…

510.3 Group S-2 enclosed parking garage with Group S-2 open parking garage above.

510.3 Group S-2 enclosed parking garage with Group S-2 open parking garage above. A Group S-2 enclosed parking garage with not more than one story above grade plane and located below a Group S-2 open parking garage shall be classified as a separate and distinct building for the purpose of determining the type of construction where the following conditions are met: 1. The allowable area of the building shall be such that the sum of the ratios of the actual area divided by the allowable area for each separate occupancy shall not exceed 1. 2. The Group S-2 enclosed parking garage is of Type I or…

510.4 Parking beneath Group R.

510.4 Parking beneath Group R. Where a maximum one story above grade plane Group S-2 parking garage, enclosed or open, or combination thereof, of Type I construction or open of Type IV construction, with grade entrance, is provided under a building of Group R, the number of stories to be used in determining the minimum type of construction shall be measured from the floor above such a parking area. The floor assembly between the parking garage and the Group R above shall comply with the type of construction required for the parking garage and shall also provide a fire-resistance rating not…

510.5 Group R-1 and R-2 buildings of Type IIIA construction.

510.5 Group R-1 and R-2 buildings of Type IIIA construction. For buildings of Type IIIA construction in Groups R-1 and R-2, the maximum allowable height in Table 504.3 shall be increased by 10 feet (3048 mm) and the maximum allowable number of stories in Table 504.4 shall be increased by one where the first-floor assembly above the basement has a fire-resistance rating of not less than 3 hours and the floor area is subdivided by 2-hour fire-resistance-rated fire walls into areas of not more than 3,000 square feet (279 m [2] ).

510.6 Group R-1 and R-2 buildings of Type IIA construction.

510.6 Group R-1 and R-2 buildings of Type IIA construction. The height limitation for buildings of Type IIA construction in Groups R-1 and R-2 shall be increased to nine stories and 100 feet (30 480 mm) where the building is separated by not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from any other building on the lot and from lot lines, the exits are segregated in an area enclosed by a 2-hour fire-resistancerated fire wall and the first floor assembly has a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 [1] / 2 hours.

510.7 Open parking garage beneath Groups A, I, B, M and R.

510.7 Open parking garage beneath Groups A, I, B, M and R. Open parking garages constructed under Groups A, I, B, M and R shall not exceed the height and area limitations permitted under Section 406.5. The height and area of the portion of the building above the open parking garage shall not exceed the limitations in Section 503 for the upper occupancy. The height, in both feet and stories, of the portion of the building above the open parking garage shall be measured from grade plane and shall include both the open parking garage and the portion of the building above the parking garage.…

510.8 Group B or M buildings with Group S-2 open parking garage above.

510.8 Group B or M buildings with Group S-2 open parking garage above. Group B or M occupancies located below a Group S-2 open parking garage of a lesser type of construction shall be considered as a separate and distinct building from the Group S-2 open parking garage for the purpose of determining the type of construction where the following conditions are met: 1. The buildings are separated with a horizontal assembly having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours. 2. The occupancies in the building below the horizontal assembly are limited to Groups B and M. 3. The occupancy…

510.9 Multiple buildings above a horizontal assembly.

510.9 Multiple buildings above a horizontal assembly. Where two or more buildings are provided above the horizontal assembly separating a Group S-2 parking garage or building below from the buildings above in accordance with the special provisions in Section 510.2, 510.3 or 510.8, the buildings above the horizontal assembly shall be regarded as separate and distinct buildings from each other and shall comply with all other provisions of this code as applicable to each separate and distinct building. on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER. 5-22 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE on Jul 18, 2025…