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Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

Section 1207

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

1207.1 Minimum room widths.

Habitable spaces, other than a kitchen, shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than 3 feet (914 mm) between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.

[HCD 1] For limited-density owner-built rural dwellings, there shall be no requirements for room dimensions, provided there is adequate light and ventilation and adequate means of egress.

1207.2 Minimum ceiling heights.

Occupiable spaces, habitable spaces and corridors shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm) above the finished floor. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens, storage rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above the finished floor.

Exceptions:

  1. In one- and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) on center

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

shall be permitted to project not more than 6 inches (152 mm) below the required ceiling height.

  1. If any room in a building has a sloped ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in one-half the area thereof. Any portion of the room measuring less than 5 feet (1524 mm) from the finished floor to the ceiling shall not be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof.

  2. The height of mezzanines and spaces below mezzanines shall be in accordance with Section 505.2.

  3. Corridors contained within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit in a Group R occupancy shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above the finished floor.

5. [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3 & 5] Minimum ceiling heights shall comply with Section 1224.4.10.

6. [OSHPD 4] Minimum ceiling heights shall comply with Section 1227.8.

1207.2.1 Furred ceiling. Any room with a furred ceiling shall be required to have the minimum ceiling height in two-thirds of the area thereof, but in no case shall the height of the furred ceiling be less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

1207.3 Room area.

Every dwelling unit shall have not less than one room that shall have not less than 120 square feet (11.2 m 2 ) of net floor area. Other habitable rooms shall have a net floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m 2 ).

Exception: Kitchens are not required to be of a minimum floor area.

1207.4 Efficiency dwelling units.

[HCD 1] Unless modified by local ordinance pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sec- tion 17958.1, efficiency dwelling units shall comply with the following:

  1. The unit shall have a living room of not less than 220 square feet (20.4 m 2 ) of floor area. An additional 100 square feet (9.3 m 2 ) of floor area shall be provided for each occupant of such unit in excess of two.

  2. The unit shall be provided with a separate closet.

  3. The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this code shall be provided.

  4. The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  6. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  7. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED
  8. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  9. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  10. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  11. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  13. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  14. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  15. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  16. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  17. ▸Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
    Overview
    1. Section 1201
    2. Section 1202
    3. Section 1203
    4. Section 1204
    5. Section 1205
    6. Section 1206
    7. Section 1207
    8. Section 1208
    9. Section 1209
    10. Section 1211 — [HCD 1]
    11. Section 1210 — [HCD 1 & HCD 2]
    12. Section 1212
    13. Section 1213
    14. Section 1214
    15. Section 1215
    16. Section 1216
    17. Section 1217
    18. Section 1218
    19. Section 1219
    20. Section 1220
    21. Section 1221
    22. Section 1222
    23. Section 1223
    24. Section 1224 — [OSHPD 1 & OSHPD 1R]
    25. Section 1225 — [OSHPD 2]
    26. Section 1226 — [OSHPD 3]
    27. Section 1227 — [OSHPD 4]
    28. Section 1228 — [OSHPD 5]
    29. Section 1229
    30. Section 1230 — [BSCC]
    31. Section 1231 — [BSCC]
    32. Section 1232
    33. Section 1233
    34. Section 1234
    35. Section 1235 — [DPH]
    36. Section 1236 — [DPH]
    37. Section 1237 — [DPH]
    38. Section 1238
    39. Section 1239
    40. Section 1240 — [AGR]
    41. Section 1241 — [AGR]
    42. Section 1242 — [AGR]
    43. Section 1243 — [AGR]
    44. Section 1244
    45. Section 1245
    46. Section 1246
    47. Section 1247
    48. Section 1248
    49. Section 1249
    50. Section 1250 — [CA]
    51. Section 1251 — [CA]
    52. Section 1252 — [CA]
    53. Section 1253 — [CA]
    54. Section 1254 — [CA]
  18. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  19. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  20. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  22. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  25. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  26. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  27. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  28. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  29. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  30. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  31. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  32. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  33. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  34. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  35. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  36. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  37. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  38. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  39. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  40. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  41. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  42. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  43. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  44. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  45. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  46. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  47. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  48. Appendix H — SIGNS
  49. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  50. Appendix J — GRADING
  51. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  52. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix O — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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