The particular section: "Section 105.2 1. One-
story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided that the
floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11 m2)."
That is why I didn't use "building area". Honestly, "Building Area" would fit into the original UBC. However, codes do have to be enforced by the words and definitions and when "floor area" is used and there is a definition for "floor area" in Chapter 2 of the building codes then must be used. Actually, there's two of them now.... gross floor area and net floor area.
Honestly, amendments over the years, complicated the mess a little more but "building area" is not used in the text of Section 105.2.1, which I would reason would actually fit into the older UBC era. This provision was a carry over from UBC. If you have a copy of the 1994 UBC, you would note that there is NO definition for 'building area' but a definition for 'area' which says 'see Floor Area'. That meant to use floor area as the definition. Therefore "building area" as a definition in the building code is a more recent adoption.
Also, the definition of Floor Area is UBC days is a little different then how it had been amended in I-codes over the past 20 or so years.
I used precedents of prior code versions when IBC was known as UBC, NBC, etc. UBC was used in the west coast states like California and therefore would have been the historic practice and definitions. UBC goes back to 1927 or about.... so it's "intent" was when it was adopted originally and with consideration of subsequent amendments. When did the old.... ICBO, BOCA, or whatever they were, intended is kind of muddy because who do we talk to from who knows when to give insight of the actual intent back in those days. How well was the records kept about the intent and "floor discussion" when they were voting to adopt it into the model codes all those years ago. This provision in 105.2.1 didn't come into existence in the I-codes days but from the prior editions of codes before the I-codes. This is why I went back to a little before IBC model code came into existence. I know the OP's code reference is from California building codes and that it's amended but this section isn't specifically a deviation from the model code in this particular case. In the UBC days, they didn't have "building area" which I think may make sense to use but to use it, the particular text from Section 105.2.1 would need to change the text "Floor Area" to "building area".
Here's the text from 1994 Uniform Building Code:
"1. One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet ( 11.15 m2)."
In this case, there isn't a definition for "roof area" but a definition for "area" which says "see Floor Area" and then you go to that definition which says:
"FLOOR AREA is the area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts and courts. 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 definition would fit the "building area" definition very closely which I would agree with you and that "building area" is actually a closer match to the Uniform Building Code's original intent for this definition and in the next cycle of the IBC, we should amend the text for this particular exemption to change "floor area" to "building area". I would agree with you and I would not fault a building official using the definition for "building area" because its actual definition is what was used for Floor Area in the Uniform Building Codes days... almost verbatim. I would concur with you to use that definition but to clean up code language, they should amend the text to use the words "building area" (with the specialize bold or italicization to indicate to refer to the code definition). This would actually restore it closer to original intent in the UBC that got muddied up in the I-codes years through the numerous amendments.