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 story
| TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | ||||||||||
| TYPE I | TYPE II | TYPE III | TYPE IV | TYPE V | ||||||
| A | B | A | B | A | B | HT | A | B | ||
| HGT(feet) | UL | 160 | 65 | 55 | 65 | 55 | 65 | 50 | 40 | |
| GROUP | HGT(S) | |||||||||
| A-1 | S A | UL UL | 5 UL | 3 15,500 | 2 8,500 | 3 14,000 | 2 8,500 | 3 15,000 | 2 11,500 | 1 5,500 |
| A-2 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 3 15,500 | 2 9,500 | 3 14,000 | 2 9,500 | 3 15,000 | 2 11,500 | 1 6,000 |
| A-3 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 3 15,500 | 2 9,500 | 3 14,000 | 2 9,500 | 3 15,000 | 2 11,500 | 1 6,000 |
| A-4 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 3 15,500 | 2 9,500 | 3 14,000 | 2 9,500 | 3 15,000 | 2 11,500 | 1 6,000 |
| A-5 | S A | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL | UL UL |
| B | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 5 37,500 | 4 23,000 | 5 28,500 | 4 19,000 | 5 36,000 | 3 18,000 | 2 9,000 |
| E | S A | UL UL | 5 UL | 3 26,500 | 2 14,500 | 3 23,500 | 2 14,500 | 3 25,500 | 1 18,500 | 1 9,500 |
| F-1 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 25,000 | 2 15,500 | 3 19,000 | 2 12,000 | 4 33,500 | 2 14,000 | 1 8,500 |
| F-2 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 5 37,500 | 3 23,000 | 4 28,500 | 3 18,000 | 5 50,500 | 3 21,000 | 2 13,000 |
| H-1 | S A | 1 21,000 | 1 16,500 | 1 11,000 | 1 7,000 | 1 9,500 | 1 7,000 | 1 10,500 | 1 7,500 | NP NP |
| H-2d | S A | UL 21,000 | 3 16,500 | 2 11,000 | 1 7,000 | 2 9,500 | 1 7,000 | 2 10,500 | 1 7,500 | 1 3,000 |
| H-3d | S A | UL UL | 6 60,000 | 4 26,500 | 2 14,000 | 4 17,500 | 2 13,000 | 4 25,500 | 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 | 4 UL | 4 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 | 9 55,000 | 4 19,000 | 3 10,000 | 4 16,500 | 3 10,000 | 4 18,000 | 3 10,500 | 2 4,500 |
| I-2 | S A | UL UL | 4 UL | 2 15,000 | 1 11,000 | 1 12,000 | NP NP | 1 12,000 | 1 9,500 | NP NP |
| I-3 | S A | UL UL | 4 UL | 2 15,000 | 1 10,000 | 2 10,500 | 1 7,500 | 2 12,000 | 2 7,500 | 1 5,000 |
| I-4 | S A | UL UL | 5 60,500 | 3 26,500 | 2 13,000 | 3 23,500 | 2 13,000 | 3 25,500 | 1 18,500 | 1 9,000 |
| M | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 21,500 | 4 12,500 | 4 18,500 | 4 12,500 | 4 20,500 | 3 14,000 | 1 9,000 |
| R-1 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 20,500 | 3 12,000 | 2 7,000 |
| R-2 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 20,500 | 3 12,000 | 2 7,000 |
| R-3 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 UL | 4 UL | 4 UL | 4 UL | 4 UL | 3 UL | 3 UL |
| R-4 | S A | UL UL | 11 UL | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 24,000 | 4 16,000 | 4 20,500 | 3 12,000 | 2 7,000 |
| S-1 | S A | UL UL | 11 48,000 | 4 26,000 | 3 17,500 | 3 26,000 | 3 17,500 | 4 25,500 | 3 14,000 | 1 9,000 |
| S-2b, c | S A | UL UL | 11 79,000 | 5 39,000 | 4 26,000 | 4 39,000 | 4 26,000 | 5 38,500 | 4 21,000 | 2 13,500 |
| 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 = 0.0929m2.
UL = Unlimited, NP = Not permitted.
a. 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 street frontage.
3. Section 506.3, Allowable 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.
UL = Unlimited, NP = Not permitted.
a. 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 street frontage.
3. Section 506.3, Allowable 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.
The height and area for buildings of different construction types shall be governed by the intended use 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.
Buildings and structures designed to house special 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.
Two or more buildings on the same lot 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.
Buildings of Type I construction permitted to be of unlimited tabular heights and areas are not subject to the special requirements that allow unlimited area buildings in Section 507 or unlimited height in Sections 503.1.1 and 504.3 or increased height and areas for other types of construction.