GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS

TABLE 503
ALLOWABLE BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREASa

Building height limitations shown in feet above grade plane. Story limitations shown as stories above grade plane.
Building area limitations shown in square feet, as determined by the definition of "Area, building;' per story
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
TYPE I

A
HEIGHT(feet)

UL

TYPE II

B
160

A
65

A-2
A-3
A-4
A-5
B

E
F-l
F-2
H-l

II

H_2d
H_3 d

II

>

H-4
H-5
1-2//-2.11

1_3 e
1-4

II

L
M

R-l
R-2

II

R-2.1
R-3/R-3.1

II

R-4
S-1
S_2b,c

if

II

A
65

B
55

TYPE IV
HT

TYPE V

65

A
50

B
40

3
15 000
3
15000
3
15 000
3
15 000
UL
UL
5
36000
3
25500
4
33500
5
50 500
I
10 500
2,
10500
4
25500
5
36 000
3
36 000
1
12 000
NP
NP
3
25500
5
36000
4
20500
4
20 500
4
20 500
NP
NP
4
UL
4i
20500
4
25500
5
38500
4
18 000

2
11500
2
11500
2
11500
2
11500
UL
UL
3
18 000
1
18500
2
14000
3
21000
1
7500
1
7500
2
10 000
3
18000
3
18000
1
9500
NP
NP
1
18500
3
18000
3
14000
3
12000
3
12 000
3g
10500
3
UL
3g
12000
3
14000
4
21000
2
9 000

1
5500
I
6000
1
6000
1
6 000
UL
UL
2
9000
1
9500
1
8500
2
13 000
NP
NP
I
3 000
1
5 000
2
6500
2
9 000
NP
NP
NP
NP
1
9000
2
6500
1
9000
2
7000
2
7000
NP
NP
3
UL

STORIES(S)
AREAJAl

GROUP

A-I

TYPE'"

B
55

S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A
S
A

UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
1
21000
20
21000
20
UL
20
UL
4
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
20
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL

5
UL
11
UL
11
UL
11
UL
UL
UL
11
UL
5
UL
11
UL
11
UL
I
16500
3
16500
6
60000
7
UL
4
UL
4
UL
2
15100
5
60500
6
60000
11
UL
11

UL
11
UL

d'
55000
11
UL

3
15500
3
15500
3
15500
3
15500
UL
UL
5
37500
3
26500
4
25 000
5
37500
1
11 000
2
11 000
4
26500
5
37500
3
37500
2
15 000
NP
NP
3
26500
5
37500
4
21500
4
24000
4
24000
3g
19000
4
UL

I1h

48

UL
11
48000
11
79000
5
35500

24000
4
26000
5
39 000
4
19 000

2
8500
2
9500
2
9500
2
9500
UL
UL
3
23 000
2
14500
2
15500
3
23 000
1
7000
1
7 000
2
14 000
3
17 500
3
23000
I
11 000
NP
NP
2
13 000
3
17500
2
12500
4
16000
4
16000
NP
NP
4
UL
4i
16 000
2
17500
3
26000
2
8500

3
14000
3
14000
3
14000
3
14000
UL
UL
5
28500
3
23500
3
19 000
4
28500
1
9500
2
9500
4
17500
5
28500
3
28500
I
12 000
NP
NP
3
23500
5
28500
4
18500
4
24000
4
24000
3g
16500
4
UL
4g
24000
3
26000
4
39 000
3
14 000

2
8500
2
9500
2
9500
2
9500
UL
UL
3
19 000
2
14500
2
12 000
3
18 000
1
7 000
1
7000
2
13 000
3
17500
3
19000
NP
NP
NP
NP
2
13000
3
17 500
2
12500
4
16 000
4
16 000
NP
NP
4
UL
4i
16000
2
17500
3
26000
2
8500

i
7 000
1
9000
2
13500
I
5500

For SI:
1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m'.
A =building area per story. S =stories above grade plane. UL =Unlimited, NP =Not permitted.
a. See the following sections for general exceptions to Table 503:
1. Section 504.2, Allowable building height and story increase due to automatic sprinkler system installation.
2. Section 506.2, Allowable building area increase due to street frontage.
3. Section 506.3, Allowable building area increase due to automatic sprinkler system installation.
4. Section 507, Unlimited area buildings.
b. For open parking structures, see Section 406.3.
c. For private garages, see Section 406.1.
d. See Section 415.5 for limitations.
e. [SFM] See Section 408.1.1 for specific exceptions for one-story Type IlA, Type IlIA or Type VA construction.
f Restraint shall not be permitted in any building except in Group 1-3 occupancies constructedfor such use (see Section 408.1.2).
g. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first two stories.
h. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first five stories.
i. Nonambulatory elderly clients are not permitted in buildings of these types of construction. See Sections 425.3.3 and 425.3.4.

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2010 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE