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// CODE SNIPPET

Section 503 General Height and Area Limitations

NYC Building Code 2008 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Height and Area Limitations
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503.1 General

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The height and area for buildings of different construction types shall be governed by the intended use and occupancy of the building and shall not exceed the limits in Table 503 except as modified hereafter. Each part of a building included within the exterior walls or the exterior walls and fire walls where provided shall be permitted to be a separate building.

TABLE 503
ALLOWABLE HEIGHT AND BUILDING AREASa
Height limitations shown as stories and feet above grade plane.
Area limitations as determined by the definition of "Area, building," per floor.
GROUP           Hgt (feet)


Hgt(S)
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
TYPE I TYPE II TYPE III TYPE IV TYPE V
A B A B A B HT A B
UL 160e 65 55 65 55 65 50 40
A-1 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
17,500
3
10,500
6
14,700
3
5,600
6
15,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
A-2 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
17,500
3
9,500
6
14,000
3
5,600
6
15,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
A-3 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
17,500
3
9,500
6
14,000
3
5,600
6
15,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
A-4 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
17,500
3
9,500
6
14,000
3
5,600
6
15,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
A-5 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
UL
UL
UL
UL
UL
B S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
37,500
3
10,500
6
28,500
3
5,600
6
36,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
E S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
4
26,000
3
10,500
4
23,500
3
5,600
6
25,500
3
8,400
2
5,500
F-1 S
A
UL
UL
6
UL
5
12,500
3
7,500
5
7,500
2
3,000
5
10,000
3
3,000
2
1,000
F-2 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
37,500
3
10,500
6
28,500
3
5,600
6
30.000
3
8,400
2
5,500
H-1 S
A
1
21,000
1
16,500
1
11,000
1
7,500
1
9,500
1
7,000
1
10,500
1
7,500
NP
NP
H-2 S
A
UL
21,000
3
16,500
2
11,000
1
7,500
2
9,500
1
7,000
1
10,500
1
7,500
1
3,000
H-3 S
A
UL
UL
6
60,000
4
26,500
2
14,000
4
17,500
2
13,000
4
25,000
2
10,000
1
5,000
H-4 S
A
UL
UL
7
UL
5
37,500
3
17,500
5
28,500
3
17,500
5
36,000
3
18,000
2
6,500
H-5 S
A
3
UL
3
UL
3
37,500
3
23,000
3
28,500
3
19,000
3
36,000
3
18,000
2
9,000
I-1 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
19,000
NP
NP
4
16,500
3
5,600
4
18,000
NP
NP
NP
NP
I-2 S
A
UL
UL
6
UL
4
7,000
4
3,500
5
5,000
3
1,200
5
6,500
3
2,000
NP
NP
I-3 S
A
UL
UL
4
UL
4
7,000
3
3,500
4
5,000
2
1,200
4
6,500
3
2,000
NP
NP
I-4 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
3
26,500
3
9,500
3
23,500
3
5,600
3
25,500
2
8,400
2
5,500
M
S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
21,500
3
7,500
6
18,500
3
5,600
6
14,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
R-1 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
UL
NP
NP
6
24,000
NP
NP
6
20,500
NP
NP
NP
NP
R-2 S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
UL
NP
NP
6
24,000
3
5,600
6
20,500
NP
NP
NP
NP
R-3
S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
17,500
3
10,500
6
14,700
3
5,600
6
30,000
3
8,400
3
5,500
S-1 S
A
UL
UL
6
48,000
5
12,000
3
7,500
4
7,500
3
7,500
4
7,500
3
5,000
2
1,000
S-2b,c S
A
UL
UL
UL
UL
6
15,000
3
10,000
6
10,000
4
8,500
6
10,000
3
8,400
2
5,500
Uc S
A
UL
UL
5
35,500
4
19,000
2
8,500
3
14,000
2
8,500
4
18,000
2
9,000
1
5,500
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2. _______________________ Not permitted in Fire District
UL = Unlimited, NP = Not permitted. _____________________________________ Not permitted in Fire District without sprinklers.
  1. See the following sections for general exceptions to Table 503:
    1. Section 504.2, Allowable height increase due to automatic sprinkler system installation.
    2. Section 506.2, Allowable area increase due to frontage.
    3. Section 506.3, Allowable area increase due to automatic sprinkler system installation.
    4. Section 507, Unlimited area building.
  2. For open parking structures, see Section 406.3.
  3. For private garages, see Section 406.1.
  4. See Section 415.5 for limitations.
  5. Except for Occupancy Groups F-1, H-1 through H-5, I-2, I-3, S-1 and U, buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall be unlimited in height.

503.1.1 Basements

Basements need not be included in the total allowable area provided:
  1. They do not exceed the area permitted for a one-story building; and
  2. The finished surface of the floor above the basement does not exceed 6 feet (1829 mm) above grade plane.

503.1.2 Special Industrial Occupancies

Buildings and structures of Type I and II construction designed to house low-hazard industrial processes that require large areas and unusual heights to accommodate craneways or special machinery and equipment including, among others, rolling mills; structural metal fabrication shops and foundries; or the production and distribution of electric, gas or steam power, shall be exempt from the height and area limitations of Table 503.

503.1.3 Buildings on Same Tax Lot

Two or more buildings on the same tax lot and under the same ownership and control shall be regulated as separate buildings, or shall be considered as portions of one building if the height of each building and the aggregate area of buildings are within the limitations of Table 503 as modified by Sections 504 and 506. The provisions of this code applicable to the aggregate building shall be applicable to each building.

503.1.4 Type I Construction

Buildings of Type I construction permitted to be of unlimited tabular heights and areas in accordance with Table 503 are not required to comply with the special requirements that allow unlimited area buildings in Section 507 or unlimited height in Sections 503.1.2 and 504.3 or increased height and areas for other types of construction.

503.2 Reserved

Related Code Sections


Section 503 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies, General Height and Area Limitations
a Height limitations shown as stories and feet above grade plane. Area limitations as determined by the definition of "Area, building," per floor ...
NYC Building Code 2008 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Height and Area Limitations
503.1.4 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies, Type I Construction
Buildings of Type I construction permitted to be of unlimited tabular heights and areas in accordance with Table 503 are not required to comply ...
NYC Building Code 2008 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Height and Area Limitations > 503.1 General > 503.1.4 Type I Construction
503.1.1 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies, Special Industrial Occupancies
and foundries; or the production and distribution of electric, gas or steam power, shall be exempt from the building height and area limitations of Table 503 ...
NYC Building Code 2014 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Building Height and Area Limitations > 503.1 General > 503.1.1 Special Industrial Occupancies
503.1.2 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies, Buildings on Same Tax Lot
of the owner, shall be considered as portions of one building if the building height of each building and the aggregate building area of the combined ...
NYC Building Code 2014 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Building Height and Area Limitations > 503.1 General > 503.1.2 Buildings on Same Tax Lot
503.1.2 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies, Buildings on the Same Tax Lot
area of the combined buildings are within the limitations specified in Sections 504 and 506. The provisions of this code applicable ...
NYC Building Code 2022 > 5 General Building Heights and Areas; Separation of Occupancies > 503 General Building Height and Area Limitations > 503.1 General > 503.1.2 Buildings on the Same Tax Lot
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