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Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING

Section R305

California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

R305.1 Minimum height.

Habitable space, hallways and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm). Bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).

Exceptions:

  1. For rooms with sloped ceilings, the required floor area of the room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) and not less than 50 percent of the required floor area shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

  2. The ceiling height above bathroom and toilet room fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) above an area of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) by 30 inches (762 mm) at the showerhead.

  3. Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions in basements containing habitable space shall be permitted to project to within 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) of the finished floor.

R305.1.1 Basements. Portions of basements that do not contain habitable space or hallways shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).

Exception: At beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions, the ceiling height shall be not less than 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) from the finished floor.

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▸Contents — California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND APPLICATION
  3. ▸Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
    Overview
    1. Section R300
    2. Section R301
    3. Section R302
    4. Section R303
    5. Section R304
    6. Section R305
    7. Section R306
    8. Section R307
    9. Section R308
    10. Section R309
    11. Section R310
    12. Section R311
    13. Section R312
    14. Section R313
    15. Section R314
    16. Section R315
    17. Section R316
    18. Section R317
    19. Section R318
    20. Section R319
    21. Section R320
    22. Section R321
    23. Section R322
    24. Section R323
    25. Section 324
    26. Section R325
    27. Section R334
    28. Section R335
    29. Section R326
    30. Section R327
    31. Section R336
    32. Section R337
    33. Section R337.1
    34. Section R337.2
    35. Section R337.3
    36. Section R337.4
    37. Section R337.5
    38. Section R337.6
    39. Section R337.7
    40. Section R337.8
    41. Section R337.9
    42. Section R337.10
    43. Section R340
    44. Section R338
  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 F — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  13. Appendix H — PATIO COVERS
  14. Appendix I — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  15. Appendix J — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  16. Appendix K — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  17. Appendix L — PERMIT FEES
  18. Appendix O — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  19. Appendix Q — TINY HOUSES
  20. Appendix R — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  21. Appendix S — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  22. Appendix T — SOLAR-READY PROVISIONS—DETACHED ONE- AND
  23. Appendix V — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  24. Appendix W — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES
  25. Appendix X — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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