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Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

Section 504

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.

BUILDING HEIGHT AND NUMBER OF STORIES

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.

180 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.

100735044

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

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
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 SEE FOOTNOTES
 TYPE I TYPE I TYPE II TYPE II TYPE III TYPE III TYPE IV TYPE V TYPE V
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION		 SEE FOOTNOTES
 A B A B A B HT A B
B, F, M, S, U NSb UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
B, F, M, S, U S UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
A, E NSb UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
A, E S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
A, E S (with area increase)
 UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5,L NSc, d UL 160 65 55 65 55 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)_
H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5,L S (with area increase)
 UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
H-4 NSc, d UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
H-4 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
H-4 S (with area increase)
 UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
I-3 NSd, e UL 160 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 180 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-3 S (with area increase)
 UL 160 NP NP NP NP NP NP NP
I-2,I-2.1 NSd, e, f UL 160 65 55 65 55 NP 50 NP
I-2,I-2.1 S_ (without area increase)_ UL 180 85 85 85 85 85 85 85
I-2,I-2.1 S (with area increase)
 UL 160 65 65 65 65 65 65 65
I-4 NSd, g UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
I-4 S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
I-4 S (with area increase)
 UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 50
R_-1_h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R_-1_h S13D 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 50 40
R_-1_h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 50 40
R_-1_h S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
R_-1_h S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R-2h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R-2h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 50 40
R-2h S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
R-2h S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 60j 40
R-2.2 S (without area increase) UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60
R-2.2 S (with area increase) UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 60i 40
R-3, R-3.1h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R-3, R-3.1h S13D 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 50 40
R-3, R-3.1h S13R 60 60 60 55 60 55 60 50 40
R-3, R-3.1h S UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R-2.1, R-4h NSd UL 160 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
R-2.1, R-4h S13D 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 50 40
R-2.1, R-4h S13R 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60
R-2.1, R-4h S UL 180 85 75 85 75 85 70 60

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. 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 and all Group L 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. 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. j. 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 permitted in addition to the height and story increase provided the height shall not exceed 60 feet and 4 stories.

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

GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

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.

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.

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 roof structures shall be constructed of materials consistent with the required type of construction of the building except where other construction is permitted by Section 1510.2.4. 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).

504.4 Number of stories.

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

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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
    Overview
    1. Section 501
    2. Section 502
    3. Section 503
    4. Section 504
    5. Section 505
    6. Section 506
    7. Section 507
    8. Section 508
    9. Section 509
    10. Section 510
  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
  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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