Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
309 Mercantile Group M — 2025 California Building Code
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-10-19 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
What category does a retail store fall under?
Classified as mercantile when used for display and sale of merchandise with public access, including department stores, drug stores, markets, greenhouses open to the public, motor fuel-dispensing facilities, retail/wholesale stores, and sales rooms.
Cite as: 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) § 309 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
309.1 Mercantile Group M.¶
Mercantile Group M occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and where the public has access. Mercantile occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Department stores
Drug stores
Greenhouses for display and sale of plants that provide public access
Markets
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities
Retail or wholesale stores
Sales rooms
309.2 Quantity of hazardous materials.¶
The aggregate quantity of nonflammable solid and nonflammable or noncombustible liquid hazardous materials stored or displayed in a single control area of a Group M occupancy shall not exceed the quantities in Table 414.2.5.1.
309.3 Motor fuel-dispensing facilities.¶
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities shall comply with Section 406.7.
Explained in plain English
Guides that cite this section.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code