Section 503 General Height and Area Limitations

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 AREAS^a
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.

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.

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.

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.