Jeremy Bair
Registered User
Good afternoon.
I am having some issues with my local building / code enforcement office. There is a "shed" on my property that has a covered porch (under the same roof line). The shed has been there since ~2008 and was built by the previous property owner.
The shed itself, measured from the inside (per the definition of "floor area") is 199 sq/ft. Local building code specifically says....
one-story detached accessory structures are exempt from building permit provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet, is not used for habitable space, and does not contain plumbing or mechanical.
The local building department wants me to permit the structure as they are including the covered porch in "floor area" as they are using the definition of Floor Area, Gross from the IBC... even though the structure has been existing for 11 years.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, ramps, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.
There is no definition of "usable area" so they say well, the porch is capable of being used, so it is included.
I cannot find any definitions of "usable area" in the IBC, IRC, Fire Code, Energy Code, etc... as noted to look for definitions in the IBC.
If I can't get them to change their minds, I guess my option is to cut the porch off... and maybe leave an overhang, however I cannot find anywhere that says if the IBC or IRC have a rule / code for a "maximum" roof overhang / eave size?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I am having some issues with my local building / code enforcement office. There is a "shed" on my property that has a covered porch (under the same roof line). The shed has been there since ~2008 and was built by the previous property owner.
The shed itself, measured from the inside (per the definition of "floor area") is 199 sq/ft. Local building code specifically says....
one-story detached accessory structures are exempt from building permit provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet, is not used for habitable space, and does not contain plumbing or mechanical.
The local building department wants me to permit the structure as they are including the covered porch in "floor area" as they are using the definition of Floor Area, Gross from the IBC... even though the structure has been existing for 11 years.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, ramps, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.
There is no definition of "usable area" so they say well, the porch is capable of being used, so it is included.
I cannot find any definitions of "usable area" in the IBC, IRC, Fire Code, Energy Code, etc... as noted to look for definitions in the IBC.
If I can't get them to change their minds, I guess my option is to cut the porch off... and maybe leave an overhang, however I cannot find anywhere that says if the IBC or IRC have a rule / code for a "maximum" roof overhang / eave size?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!