Ceiling heights

Habitable roomsR305.1#

Habitable rooms, hallways, and portions of basements containing habitable space require a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet measured from the finished floor to the lowest projection from the ceiling.

Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry roomsR305.1 Exception 2#

Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms are allowed a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches. At the shower or tub, a minimum clear height of 6 feet 8 inches is required above a 30 inch by 30 inch area at the showerhead.

Basements without habitable spaceR305.1 Exception 1#

A basement with no habitable space and no bathroom is allowed a reduced minimum height of 6 feet 8 inches. Beams, girders, ducts, and similar projections are allowed to drop to 6 feet 4 inches from the finished floor.

Sloped ceilingsR305.1.1#

For rooms with sloped ceilings, the minimum height applies over at least 50 percent of the required floor area. Any portion of the room with a sloped ceiling less than 5 feet high does not count toward the minimum required floor area.

Common inspection flags#

The most common ceiling height failures caught on framing and final inspection:

• Finished basement measured before drywall and flooring drops the clear height below 7 feet
• HVAC trunk or beam in a habitable basement soffit lower than the allowed projection
• Bonus room over a garage where the flat ceiling covers less than half the required floor area
• Shower head clearance under 6 feet 8 inches after tile and curb are installed
• Hallway soffit for plumbing vent dropped below 7 feet