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• IBC 508.1

  General

  • Classify each part per 302.1; mixed buildings use accessory (508.2), nonseparated (508.3), separated (508.4) or live/work (508.5) provisions.

  Works withIBC 302.1IBC 508.2IBC 508.3IBC 508.4IBC 508.5IBC 510

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.2

  Accessory occupancies

  • Accessory occupancies are ancillary to the main occupancy and follow 508.2.1 to 508.2.4.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.3

  Nonseparated occupancies

  • Buildings meeting this section are nonseparated occupancies.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.4

  Separated occupancies

  • Buildings meeting this section are separated occupancies, divided per Table 508.4.
  • Sprinklered building examples: R to A, E, B, M, S-1, S-2 or U is 1 hour; A/E to B, M, S-1 1 hour; A/E to S-2/U none; B/F-1/M/S-1 to each other none; I-2 to most groups 2 hours; H-2 3 hours from A, B, R. Unsprinklered values are one hour higher or not permitted. Separations from areas used only for private vehicles drop 1 hour (not below 1).

  Works withIBC Table 508.4IBC 420IBC 406.3.2

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• IBC 508.5

  Live/work units

  • Live/work units in IBC buildings meet 508.5 throughout; in IRC buildings the work part meets 508.5 and the home part follows the IRC. A home office under 10% of the unit is just an accessory use.

  Works withIRC

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• IBC 508.2.1

  Occupancy classification

  • Accessory spaces are classified individually and meet the rules for their own occupancy.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.2.2

  Allowable building height

  • Height and stories follow the main occupancy.

  Works withIBC 504

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• IBC 508.2.3

  Allowable building area

  • Area follows the main occupancy; accessory occupancies may total 10% of the story and each stays within its unsprinklered Table 506.2 value.

  Works withIBC 506

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• IBC 508.2.4

  Separation of occupancies

  • No separation is needed between accessory and main occupancies, except H-2 to H-5 (508.4) and dwelling/sleeping units (420).

  Works withIBC 508.4IBC 420

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• IBC 508.3.1

  Occupancy classification

  • Each part follows its own occupancy, and the most restrictive Chapter 9 requirement applies to the whole nonseparated area.

  Works withIBC Chapter 9

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• IBC 508.3.2

  Allowable building area, height and number of stories

  • Area, height and stories use the most restrictive occupancy present.

  Works withIBC 503.1

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• IBC 508.3.3

  Separation

  • No separation between nonseparated occupancies, except H-2 to H-5 and dwelling/sleeping units.

  Works withIBC 508.4IBC 420

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• IBC 508.4.1

  Occupancy classification

  • Each separated space follows its own occupancy; Chapter 9's most restrictive rule applies across areas not split by fire barriers; fire-area separations also meet 901.7.

  Works withIBC 901.7

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• IBC 508.4.2

  Allowable building area

  • In each story, the sum of (actual area ÷ allowable area) for each separated occupancy may not exceed 1.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.4.3

  Allowable building height and number of stories

  • Each separated occupancy meets its own height and story limits.

  Works withIBC 503.1IBC 510

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.4.4

  Separation

  • Separate occupancies per Table 508.4.

  Works withIBC Table 508.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.1

  Limitations

  • A live/work unit may be up to 3,000 sq ft, at most 50% nonresidential, with work use on the main floor only.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.2

  Occupancies

  • Live/work units are Group R-2 with no internal separations; no H or S uses, though storage up to 10% of the work area is fine.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.3

  Means of egress

  • Egress follows Chapter 10 for each function.

  Works withIBC Chapter 10

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• IBC 508.5.4

  Egress capacity

  • Egress capacity uses Table 1004.5 occupant loads for each function.

  Works withIBC 1004.5

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.5

  Spiral stairways

  • Spiral stairs per 1011.10 are allowed.

  Works withIBC 1011.10

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.6

  Vertical openings

  • Floor openings within a live/work unit needn't be enclosed.

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• IBC 508.5.7

  Fire protection

  • Live/work units need sprinklers (13 or 13R), smoke alarms and, where 907.2.9.1 requires, manual fire alarm; in IRC buildings, sprinklers per IRC P2904 and smoke alarms per IRC R310.

  Works withIBC 903.3.1.1IBC 903.3.1.2IBC 907.2.11IRC P2904IRC R310

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.5.8

  Structural

  • Floors use the Table 1607.1 live load for each function.

  Works withIBC 1607.1

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• IBC 508.5.9

  Accessibility

  • Accessibility follows Chapter 11 by function.

  Works withIBC Chapter 11

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• IBC 508.5.10

  Ventilation

  • IMC ventilation applies to each area by function.

  Works withIMC

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• IBC 508.5.11

  Plumbing facilities

  • The work area gets Chapter 29 plumbing fixtures for its function, accessible where required.

  Works withIBC Chapter 29

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.3.1.1

  High-rise buildings

  • In a high-rise, the most restrictive Section 403 requirement applies throughout.

  Works withIBC 403

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 508.3.1.2

  Group I-2, Condition 2 occupancies

  • With I-2 Condition 2, the most restrictive 407, 509 and 712 rules apply to its fire area and Chapter 10 to its egress path.

  Works withIBC 407IBC 509IBC 712

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• IBC 508.4.4.1

  Construction

  • Separations are fire barriers (707) and/or horizontal assemblies (711); exposed mass timber in IV-B/IV-C separations needs a ½-in gypsum thermal barrier.

  Works withIBC 707IBC 711

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 302.1

  Occupancy classification

  • Classify each building or part by its main purpose into Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S or U. Multipurpose spaces meet the rules for every use; mixed buildings follow 508; unlisted uses take the group they most resemble; occupiable roofs are classed the same way and meet 503.1.4.

  Works withIBC 303IBC 304IBC 305IBC 306IBC 307IBC 308IBC 309IBC 310IBC 311IBC 312IBC 508IBC 503.1.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 3, Occupancy Classification and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 507.9

  Unlimited mixed occupancy buildings with Group H-5

  • Two-story sprinklered B, F, H-5, M or S with 60-ft yards is unlimited if H-5 is Type I/II, separated per 415.11 and 508.4, and within its allowable area (or split by 2-hour barriers).

  Works withIBC 415.11IBC 508.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 1508.1

  General

  • General scope for Section 1508.

  Works withIBC Chapter 26

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 15, Roof Assemblies and Rooftop StructuresRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 2508.1

  General

  • General scope for Section 2508.

  Works withIBC Chapter 35

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 25, Gypsum Panel Products and PlasterRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 406.2.8

  Mixed occupancies and uses

  • Mixed uses with garages follow 508.1, and for open garages also 402.4.2.3, 406.5.11, 510.3, 510.4 and 510.7.

  Works withIBC 508.1IBC 510.3IBC 510.4IBC 510.7

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 406.3.2

  Separation

  • Private garages next to dwelling units follow 406.3.2.1 and 406.3.2.2; others follow 508.

  Works withIBC 508

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 406.5.3

  Mixed occupancies and uses

  • Mixed uses follow 402.4.2.3, 406.5.11, 508.1, 510.3, 510.4 and 510.7.

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 428.3.1

  Separation from other nonlaboratory areas

  • Lab suites are separated per Table 428.3 or 508, whichever is stricter.

  Works withIBC 707IBC 711IBC 508

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 506.2.2

  Mixed-occupancy buildings

  • Mixed buildings use 508.3.2 or 508.4.2 per story; above three stories the sum of each story's actual/allowable ratios may not exceed 3 (4 with 13R and separated occupancies).

  Works withIBC 508.3.2IBC 508.4.2

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 507.1.1

  Accessory occupancies

  • Accessory occupancies are allowed per 508.2.

  Works withIBC 508.2

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• IBC 507.4.1

  Mixed occupancy buildings with Groups A-1 and A-2

  • A-1 and A-2 (not Type V) may be in a 507.4 building if separated per 508.4.4 without sprinkler reduction, each within its own allowable area, with exits directly outside.

  Works withIBC 508.4.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 507.8.3

  Occupancy separations

  • Group H is separated per Table 508.4.

  Works withIBC 508.4

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• IBC 510.7.1

  Fire separation

  • Separate garage and upper occupancy per Table 508.4; supporting garage members carry the stricter rating; upper egress is enclosed by 2-hour barriers.

  Works withIBC 508.4IBC 601

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, General Building Heights and AreasRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 707.3.9

  Separated occupancies

  • Occupancy separations per Table 508.4.

  Works withIBC 508.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 7, Fire and Smoke Protection FeaturesRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 415.9.1.1

  Mixed occupancies

  • Tank areas over one control area's MAQ are separated per 508.4.

  Works withIBC 508.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and UseRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

• IBC 506.2.2.1

  Group H-2 or H-3 mixed occupancies

  • With H-2 or H-3 present, use 508.4.2 and apply the sprinkler increase only to non-H-2/H-3 parts.

  Works withIBC 508.4.2

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• IBC 711.2.4.1

  Separating mixed occupancies

  • Per Table 508.4.

  Works withIBC 508.4

  International Building Code, 2024 · Chapter 7, Fire and Smoke Protection FeaturesRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

Searches all 4,276 IRC 2024 sections, 5,532 IBC 2024 sections and defined terms (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 so far) and each city's local rules as they are added. Section numbers and titles from the International Residential Code and International Building Code, 2024 editions, copyrighted by the International Code Council; the IRC's electrical chapters (34 to 43) follow NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code. Requirements are summarized in our words (IRC Chapters 3 to 43, IBC Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33); read the full text at the link on each result. Local values come from each city's published documents.