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• IBC 503.1

  General

  • Height, stories and area may not exceed Sections 504 and 506 for the construction type (602) and occupancy (302); each is checked separately, and each part separated by fire walls counts as its own building.

  Works withIBC 504IBC 506IBC 602IBC 302IBC 706

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

• IBC 503.1.1

  Special industrial occupancies

  • Buildings for special industrial processes needing large areas or unusual heights (rolling mills, foundries, power plants) are exempt from height, story and area limits.

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

• IBC 503.1.2

  Buildings on same lot

  • Several buildings on one lot are treated separately, or as one building if their combined area and each one's height fit Sections 504 and 506.

  Works withIBC 504IBC 506

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

• IBC 503.1.3

  Type I construction

  • Type I buildings already allowed unlimited height and area don't use the unlimited-area or height increase provisions meant for other types.

  Works withIBC 507IBC 504.3

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

• IBC 503.1.4

  Occupiable roofs

  • An occupiable roof may only hold an occupancy allowed by Table 504.4 on the story below; it doesn't count toward area, height or stories if rooftop structures meet 1511. Fully sprinklered buildings with roof notification may use any occupancy.

  Works withIBC 504.4IBC 1511IBC 903.3.1.1IBC 903.3.1.2IBC 907.5.2.1

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

• IBC 503.1.4.1

  Enclosures over occupiable roof areas

  • Enclosing elements on an occupiable roof may be no more than 48 in high, except penthouses, towers and roofs more than 75 ft above fire access.

  Works withIBC 1511.2IBC 1511.5

  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)

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.