Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user.

See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)

Adopting Agency	BSC	BSC -CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD						BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting Agency	BSC	BSC -CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Adopt entire chapter	X							X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below
Chapter / Section
503.1,Exception 1			X	X
Figure 5-1			X
Table 504.3			X
Table 504.4			X
Table 506.2			X
506.2.3			X
506.2.4			X
507.4			X
507.11			X
508.2.4			X
508.3.3			X
Table 508.4			X
Table 509			X
509.3			X
510.10			X

The state agency does not adopt sections identified with the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

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.

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178 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE 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.

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CHAPTER 5

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

User note:

About this chapter: Chapter 5 establishes the limits to which a building can be built. Building height, number of stories and building area are specified in this chapter. Chapter 5 must be used in conjunction with the occupancies established in Chapter 3 and the types of construction established in Chapter 6. This chapter also specifies the impact that mezzanines, accessory occupancies and mixed occupancies have on the overall size of a building.

which may constitute a substandard building are delineated by Section 17920.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

2. Other than structural requirements, solar photovol- taic panels supported by a structure with no use underneath shall not constitute additional story or additional floor area and may exceed the height limit when constructed on a roof top of a building provided the following conditions are met:

1.1. For all occupancies, the highest point of the structure/panel shall meet the lower of the two values below:

1. 3 above the allowable building height per this code. 2. 3 above the roof of the building immedi- ately below.

2.1. For installations on flat roofs in other than Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies, the highest point of the structure/panel shall meet the lower of the two values below:

1. 10 above the allowable building height per this code. 2. 10 above the roof of the building immedi- ately below.

3. Other than structural requirements, solar photovol- taic panels supported by a structure over parking stalls shall not constitute additional story or addi- tional floor area and may exceed the height limit as specified in exception 2 (above) when the following conditions are met (see Figure 5-1):

1. The area within the perimeter of the photovoltaic array has maximum rectangular dimension of 40 feet by 150 feet.

2. The distance between solar photovoltaic array structures is a minimum of 10 feet clear.

3. The driveway aisle separating solar photovoltaic array structures has a minimum width of 25 feet clear.

4. Solar photovoltaic array structure is used only for parking purposes with no storage.

5. Completely open on all sides (other than neces- sary structural supports) with no interior parti- tions.

506.3 Frontage increase.¶

Every building shall adjoin or have access to a public way to receive an area factor increase based on frontage. Area factor increase shall be determined in accordance with Sections 506.3.1 through 506.3.3.

506.3.1 Minimum percentage of perimeter. To qualify for an area factor increase based on frontage, a building shall have not less than 25 percent of its perimeter on a public way or open space. Such open space shall be either on the same lot or dedicated for public use and shall be accessed from a street or approved fire lane.

506.3.2 Minimum frontage distance. To qualify for an area factor increase based on frontage, the public way or open space adjacent to the building perimeter shall have a minimum distance ( W ) of 20 feet (6096 mm) measured at right angles from the building face to any of the following:

The closest interior lot line.
The entire width of a street, alley or public way.
The exterior face of an adjacent building on the same property.

Where the value of W is greater than 30 feet (9144 mm), a value of 30 feet (9144 mm) shall be used in calculating the building area increase based on frontage, regard

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GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

exterior face of an opposing building located on the same lot, as applicable.

Where the building fronts on a public way, the entire width of the public way shall be used.

507.2.1 Reduced open space. The public ways or yards of 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width required in Sections 507.3, 507.4, 507.5, 507.6 and 507.12 shall be permitted to be reduced to not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm) in width provided all of the following requirements are met:

The reduced width shall not be allowed for more than 75 percent of the perimeter of the building.
The exterior walls facing the reduced width shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 3 hours.
Openings in the exterior walls facing the reduced width shall have opening protectives with a fire protection rating of not less than 3 hours.

507.3 Nonsprinklered, one-story buildings.¶

The area of a Group F-2 or S-2 building not more than one story in height shall not be limited where the building is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.4 Sprinklered, one-story buildings.¶

The area of a Group A-4 building not more than one story above grade plane of other than Type V construction, or the area of a Group B, F, M or S building no more than one story above grade plane of any construction type, shall not be limited where the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

Exceptions:

Buildings and structures of Type I or II construction for rack storage facilities that do not have access by the public shall not be limited in height, provided that such buildings conform to the requirements of Sections 507.4 and 903.3.1.1 and Chapter 32 of the California Fire Code .
The automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in areas occupied for indoor participant sports, such as tennis, skating, swimming and equestrian activities in occupancies in Group A-4, provided that all of the following criteria are met:

2.1. Exit doors directly to the outside are provided for occupants of the participant sports areas.

2.2. The building is equipped with a fire alarm system with manual fire alarm boxes installed in accordance with Section 907.

2.3. An automatic sprinkler system is provided in storage rooms, press boxes, concession booths or other spaces ancillary to the sport activity space.

507.4.1 Mixed occupancy buildings with Groups A-1 and A-2. Group A-1 and A-2 occupancies of other than Type V construction shall be permitted within mixed occu

pancy buildings of unlimited area complying with Section 507.4, provided all of the following criteria are met:

Group A-1 and A-2 occupancies are separated from other occupancies as required for separated occupancies in Section 508.4.4 with no reduction allowed in the fire-resistance rating of the separation based upon the installation of an automatic sprinkler system.
Each area of the portions of the building used for Group A-1 or A-2 occupancies shall not exceed the maximum allowable area permitted for such occupancies in Section 503.1.
Exit doors from Group A-1 and A-2 occupancies shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building.

507.5 Two-story buildings.¶

The area of a Group B, F, M or S building not more than two stories above grade plane shall not be limited where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.6 Group A-3 buildings of Type II construction.¶

The area of a Group A-3 building not more than one story above grade plane, used as a place of religious worship, community hall, dance hall, exhibition hall, gymnasium, lecture hall, indoor swimming pool or tennis court of Type II construction, shall not be limited provided all of the following criteria are met:

The building shall not have a stage other than a platform.
The building shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
The building shall be surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.7 Group A-3 buildings of Type III and IV construc-tion.¶

tion. The area of a Group A-3 building of Type III or IV construction, with not more than one story above grade plane and used as a place of religious worship, community hall, dance hall, exhibition hall, gymnasium, lecture hall, indoor swimming pool or tennis court, shall not be limited provided all of the following criteria are met:

The building shall not have a stage other than a platform.
The building shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
The assembly floor shall be located at or within 21 inches (533 mm) of street or grade level and all exits are provided with ramps complying with Section 1012 to the street or grade level.
The building shall be surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

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507.8 Group H-2, H-3 and H-4 occupancies.¶

Group H-2, H-3 and H-4 occupancies shall be permitted in unlimited area buildings containing Group F or S occupancies in accordance with Sections 507.4 and 507.5 and the provisions of Sections 507.8.1 through 507.8.4.

507.8.1 Allowable area. The aggregate floor area of Group H occupancies located in an unlimited area building shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the building or the area limitations for the Group H occupancies as specified in Section 506 based on the perimeter of each Group H floor area that fronts on a public way or open space.

507.8.1.1 Located within the building. The aggregate floor area of Group H occupancies not located at the perimeter of the building shall not exceed 25 percent of the area limitations for the Group H occupancies as specified in Section 506.

507.8.1.1.1 Liquid use, dispensing and mixing rooms. Liquid use, dispensing and mixing rooms having a floor area of not more than 500 square feet (46.5 m ² ) need not be located on the outer perimeter of the building where they are in accordance with the California Fire Code and NFPA 30.

507.8.1.1.2 Liquid storage rooms. Liquid storage rooms having a floor area of not more than 1,000 square feet (93 m ² ) need not be located on the outer perimeter where they are in accordance with the California Fire Code and NFPA 30.

507.8.1.1.3 Spray paint booths. Spray paint booths that comply with the California Fire Code need not be located on the outer perimeter.

507.8.2 Located on building perimeter. Except as provided for in Section 507.8.1.1, Group H occupancies shall be located on the perimeter of the building. In Group H-2 and H-3 occupancies, not less than 25 percent of the perimeter of such occupancies shall be an exterior wall.

507.8.3 Occupancy separations. Group H occupancies shall be separated from the remainder of the unlimited area building and from each other in accordance with Table 508.4.

507.8.4 Height limitations. For two-story, unlimited area buildings, Group H occupancies shall not be located more than one story above grade plane unless permitted based on the allowable height and number of stories and feet as specified in Section 504 based on the type of construction of the unlimited area building.

507.9 Unlimited mixed occupancy buildings with Group H-5.¶

H-5. The area of a Group B, F, H-5, M or S building not more than two stories above grade plane shall not be limited where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width, provided all of the following criteria are met:

Buildings containing Group H-5 occupancy shall be of Type I or II construction.

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

Each area used for Group H-5 occupancy shall be separated from other occupancies as required in Sections 415.11 and 508.4.
Each area used for Group H-5 occupancy shall not exceed the maximum allowable area permitted for such occupancies in Section 503.1 including modifications of Section 506.

Exception: Where the Group H-5 occupancy exceeds the maximum allowable area, the Group H5 shall be subdivided into areas that are separated by 2-hour fire barriers.

507.10 Aircraft paint hangar.¶

The area of a Group H-2 aircraft paint hangar not more than one story above grade plane shall not be limited where such aircraft paint hangar complies with the provisions of Section 412.5 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less in width than one and one-half times the building height.

507.11 Group E buildings.¶

The area of a Group E building not more than one story above grade plane, of Type II, IIIA or IV construction, shall not be limited provided all of the following criteria are met:

Each classroom shall have not less than two means of egress, with one of the means of egress being a direct exit to the outside of the building complying with Section 1022.
The building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
The building is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.12 Motion picture theaters.¶

In buildings of Type II construction, the area of a motion picture theater located on the first story above grade plane shall not be limited where the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.13 Covered and open mall buildings and anchor buildings.¶

buildings. The area of covered and open mall buildings and anchor buildings not exceeding three stories in height that comply with Section 402 shall not be limited.