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Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

Section 1208 — INTERIOR SPACE DIMENSIONS

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1208.1 Minimum room widths.

Habitable spaces, other than a kitchen, shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than 3 feet (914 mm) between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.

[HCD 1] For limited-density owner-built rural dwellings, there shall be no requirements for room dimensions, provided there is adequate light and ventilation and adequate means of egress.

1208.2 Minimum ceiling heights.

Occupiable spaces, habitable spaces and corridors shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm) above the finished floor. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens, storage rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above the finished floor.

Exceptions:

  1. In one- and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) on center shall be permitted to project not more than 6 inches (152 mm) below the required ceiling height.
  2. If any room in a building has a sloped ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in one-half the area thereof. Any portion of the room measuring less than 5 feet (1524 mm) from the finished floor to the ceiling shall not be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof.
  3. The height of mezzanines and spaces below mezzanines shall be in accordance with Section 505.2.

12-8 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

  1. Corridors contained within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit in a Group R occupancy shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above the finished floor.

5. [OSHPD 1, 2, 3 & 5] Minimum ceiling heights shall comply with Section 1224.4.10. 6. [OSHPD 4] Minimum ceiling heights shall comply with Section 1227.8.

1208.2.1 Furred ceiling. Any room with a furred ceiling shall be required to have the minimum ceiling height in two-thirds of the area thereof, but in no case shall the height of the furred ceiling be less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

1208.3 Dwelling unit size.

Dwelling units shall have a minimum of 190 square feet (17.7 m [2] ) of habitable space.

1208.4 Room area.

Every dwelling unit shall have not less than one room that shall have not less than 120 square feet (11.2 m [2] ) of net floor area. Sleeping units and other habitable rooms of a dwelling unit shall have a net floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m [2] ).

Exception: Kitchens are not required to be of a minimum floor area.

1208.5 Efficiency dwelling units.

[HCD 1] Unless modified by local ordinance pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17958.1, effi- ciency dwelling units shall comply with the following:

  1. The unit’s habitable space shall comply with Sections 1208.1 through 1208.4.
  2. The unit shall be provided with a separate closet.
  3. For other than Accessible, adaptable dwelling units, the unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and refrigerator, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this code shall be provided.
  4. The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. ▸ Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
    Overview
    1. Section 1201 — GENERAL
    2. Section 1202 — VENTILATION
    3. Section 1203 — TEMPERATURE CONTROL
    4. Section 1204 — LIGHTING
    5. Section 1205 — YARDS OR COURTS
    6. Section 1206 — SOUND TRANSMISSION
    7. Section 1207 — ENHANCED CLASSROOM ACOUSTICS
    8. Section 1208 — INTERIOR SPACE DIMENSIONS
    9. Section 1209 — ACCESS TO UNOCCUPIED SPACES
    10. Section 1210 — TOILET AND BATHROOM REQUIREMENTS
    11. Section 1211 — UV GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION SYSTEMS
    12. Section 1212 — [HCD 1 & HCD 2]—GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS
    13. Section 1213 — [HCD 1]—POLLUTANT CONTROL
    14. Section 1214 — RESERVED
    15. Section 1215 — RESERVED
    16. Section 1216 — RESERVED
    17. Section 1217 — RESERVED
    18. Section 1218 — RESERVED
    19. Section 1219 — RESERVED
    20. Section 1220 — RESERVED
    21. Section 1221 — RESERVED
    22. Section 1222 — RESERVED
    23. Section 1223 — RESERVED
    24. Section 1224 — [OSHPD 1]—HOSPITALS
    25. Section 1225 — [OSHPD 2]-SKILLED NURSING AND INTERMEDIATE-CARE…
    26. Section 1226 — [OSHPD 3]-CLINICS
    27. Section 1227 — [OSHPD 4]-CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT CENTERS
    28. Section 1228 — [OSHPD 5]—ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
    29. Section 1229 — [OSHPD 6] — CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY RECOVERY HOSPIT…
    30. Section 1230 — [BSCC] — MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR JUVENILE FACILIT…
    31. Section 1231 — [BSCC] — LOCAL DETENTION
    32. Section 1232 — RESERVED
    33. Section 1233 — RESERVED
    34. Section 1234 — RESERVED
    35. Section 1235 — [DPH]—SANITARY CONTROL OF SHELLFISH (PLANTS AND…
    36. Section 1236 — [DPH]—LABORATORY ANIMAL QUARTERS
    37. Section 1237 — [DPH]—WILD ANIMAL QUARANTINE FACILITIES
    38. Section 1238 — RESERVED
    39. Section 1239 — RESERVED
    40. Section 1240 — [AGR]—MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING PLANTS
    41. Section 1241 — [AGR]—COLLECTION CENTERS AND FACILITIES
    42. Section 1242 — [AGR]—RENDERERS
    43. Section 1243 — [AGR]—HORSEMEAT AND PET FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
    44. Section 1244 — RESERVED
    45. Section 1245 — RESERVED
    46. Section 1246 — RESERVED
    47. Section 1247 — RESERVED
    48. Section 1248 — RESERVED
    49. Section 1249 — RESERVED
    50. Section 1250 — [CA]—PHARMACIES
    51. Section 1251 — [CA]—VETERINARY PREMISES
    52. Section 1252 — [CA]—BARBER COLLEGES AND SHOPS
    53. Section 1253 — [CA]—SCHOOLS OF COSMETOLOGY, COSMETOLOGICAL EST…
    54. Section 1254 — [CA]—ACUPUNCTURE OFFICES
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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