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Appendix CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING

Section CJ108 — LOFTS IN EMERGENCY HOUSING

2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California

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

CJ108.1 Minimum loft area and dimensions.

Lofts used as a sleeping or living space shall meet the minimum area and dimension requirements of Sections CJ108.1.1 through CJ108.1.3. CJ108.1.1 Minimum area. Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than 35 square feet (3.25 m [2] ).

CJ108.1.2 Minimum dimensions. Lofts shall be not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in any horizontal dimension.

CJ108.1.3 Height effect on loft area. Portions of a loft with a sloping ceiling measuring less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall not be considered as contributing to the minimum required area for the loft.

Exception : Under gable roofs with a minimum slope of 6:12, portions of a loft with a sloping ceiling measuring less than 16 inches (406 mm) from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall not be considered as contributing to the minimum required area for the loft.

CJ108.2 Loft access.

The access to and primary egress from lofts shall be any type described in Sections CJ108.2.1 through CJ108.2.4.

CJ108.2.1 Stairways. Stairways accessing lofts shall comply with this code or with Sections CJ108.2.1.1 through CJ108.2.1.6.

CJ108.2.1.1 Width. Stairways accessing a loft shall not be less than 17 inches (432 mm) in clear width at or above the handrail. The minimum width below the handrail shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm).

CJ108.2.1.2 Headroom. The headroom in stairways accessing a loft shall be not less than 74 inches (1880 mm), as measured verti- cally, from a sloped line connecting the tread or landing platform nosings in the middle of their width.

CJ108.2.1.3 Treads and risers. Risers for stairs accessing a loft shall be not less than 7 inches (178 mm) and not more than 12 inches (305 mm) in height. Tread depth and riser height shall be calculated in accordance with one of the following formulas: 1. The tread depth shall be 20 inches (508 mm) minus 4/3 of the riser height, or 2. The riser height shall be 15 inches (381 mm) minus 3/4 of the tread depth.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

APPENDIX CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING

CJ108.2.1.4 Landing platforms. The top step of stairways accessing lofts shall be constructed as a landing platform where the loft ceiling height is less than 74 inches (1880 mm). The landing platform shall be 18 inches (457 mm) to 22 inches (559 mm) in depth measured from the nosing of the landing platform to the edge of the loft, and 16 inches (406 mm) to 18 inches (457 mm) in height measured from the landing platform to the loft floor.

CJ108.2.1.5 Handrails. Handrails shall comply with Section R311.7.8.

CJ108.2.1.6 Stairway guards. Guards at open sides of stairways shall comply with Section R312.1.

CJ108.2.2 Ladders. Ladders accessing lofts shall comply with Sections CJ108.2.1 and CJ108.2.2.

CJ108.2.2.1 Size and capacity. Ladders accessing lofts shall have a rung width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm), and 10-inch (254 mm) to 14-inch (356 mm) spacing between rungs. Ladders shall be capable of supporting a 200 pound (90.7 kg) load on any rung. Rung spacing shall be uniform within [3] / 8 inch (9.5 mm).

CJ108.2.2.2 Incline. Ladders shall be installed at 70 to 80 degrees from horizontal.

CJ108.2.3 Alternating tread devices. Alternating tread devices are acceptable as allowed by the enforcing agency.

CJ108.2.4 Loft guards. Loft guards shall be located along the open side of lofts. Loft guards shall not be less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height or one-half of the clear height to the ceiling, whichever is less. Loft guards shall not have openings from the walking surface to the required guard height that allow passage of a sphere 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
  4. Chapter 4 — FOUNDATIONS
  5. Chapter 5 — FLOORS
  6. Chapter 6 — WALL CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — WALL COVERING
  8. Chapter 8 — ROOF-CEILING CONSTRUCTION
  9. Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES
  10. Chapter 10 — CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
  11. Chapter 44 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  12. Appendix AA — BOARD OF APPEALS
  13. Appendix AB — PERMIT FEES
  14. Appendix AC — RESERVED
  15. Appendix BA — RESERVED
  16. Appendix BB — TINY HOUSES
  17. Appendix BC — RESERVED
  18. Appendix BD — RESERVED
  19. Appendix BE — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  20. Appendix BF — PATIO COVERS
  21. Appendix BG — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  22. Appendix BH — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  23. Appendix BI — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  24. Appendix BJ — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  25. Appendix BK — COB CONSTRUCTION (MONOLITHIC ADOBE)
  26. Appendix BL — HEMP-LIME (HEMPCRETE) CONSTRUCTION
  27. Appendix BM — 3D-PRINTED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
  28. Appendix BN — EXTENDED PLATE WALL CONSTRUCTION
  29. Appendix BO — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  30. Appendix CA — RESERVED
  31. Appendix CB — RESERVED
  32. Appendix CC — RESERVED
  33. Appendix CD — RESERVED
  34. Appendix CE — RESERVED
  35. Appendix CF — RESERVED
  36. Appendix CG — NONSEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
  37. Appendix CH — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  38. Appendix CI — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  39. ▸ Appendix CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING
    Overview
    1. Section CJ101 — GENERAL
    2. Section CJ102 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Section CJ103 — EMERGENCY HOUSING
    4. Section CJ104 — EMERGENCY SLEEPING CABINS
    5. Section CJ105 — EMERGENCY TRANSPORTABLE HOUSING UNITS
    6. Section CJ106 — TENTS AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURES
    7. Section CJ107 — ACCESSIBILITY
    8. Section CJ108 — LOFTS IN EMERGENCY HOUSING
    9. Section CJ109 — LOCATION, MAINTENANCE AND IDENTIFICATION
    10. Section CJ110 — EMERGENCY HOUSING FACILITIES
  40. Appendix CK — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES OF THE CENTRAL…

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