HomeMy WebLinkAboutCottage Housing Livability Standards 6-16 (1)
PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: 406-582-2375
Cottage Housing Information Sheet
Applicable Building Codes;
• International Residential Code
• National Electrical Code
• Uniform Plumbing Code
• International Energy Conservation Code
• International Mechanical Code
• International Fuel Gas Code
Minimum Livability Standards as Specified by the International Residential Code.
I. Minimum Room Areas
a. Every dwelling unit shall have at least one habitable room that shall have not less than 120
square feet of gross floor area.
b. Other habitable rooms shall have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet.
c. Habitable rooms shall not be less than 7 feet in any horizontal dimension.
II. Height Effect on Room Area
a. Portions of a room with a sloping ceiling measuring less than 5 feet from the finish floor to the
finished ceiling shall not be considered as contributing to the minimum required habitable area
for that room.
III. Minimum Ceiling Height
a. Habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and portions of
basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet.
Exceptions:
i. For rooms with sloped ceilings, at least 50 percent of the required floor area of the
room must have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet and no portion of the required floor area may have a ceiling height of less than 5 feet.
ii. Bathrooms shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches. The ceiling height
above fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended
purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches above a minimum area 32 inches by 32 inches at the showerhead.
b. Basements; Portions of basements that do not contain habitable space, hallways,
bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches.
IV. Kitchens
a. Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen area and every kitchen area shall be provided with a sink.
b. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than 3 feet between counter fronts and
appliances or counter fronts and walls.
c. Kitchens are not required to be of a minimum floor area.
V. Toilet Facilities
a. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a water closet, lavatory, and a bathtub or shower.
i. Water closets shall have a minimum of 15 inch clearance from the center of the fixture to
the adjacent wall, cabinet or bathtub for a minimum overall opening of 30 inches.
ii. Water closets, lavatories and bathtubs shall have a minimum 21 inches clear passageway
between walls, cabinets and other fixtures including bathtubs on the approach side of
the fixture.
iii. Shower floor shall be a minimum 32 inches by 32 inches (1024 ft²) clear floor space.
iv. Shower unit shall have a minimum 30 inches clear passage way on the shower door side
of the unit.
b. Bathtub and shower floors and walls above bathtubs with installed shower heads and in
shower compartments shall be finished with a nonabsorbent surface. Such wall surfaces
shall extend to a height of not less than 6 feet above the floor.
VI. Fire Resistive Construction
a. Construction, projections and openings of exterior walls of dwellings and accessory buildings
shall comply with Table R302.1(1);
Exceptions;
i. Walls, projections and openings in walls perpendicular to the line used to determine the fire separation distance.
ii. Walls of dwellings and accessory structures located on the same lot.
iii. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures exempted
from permits are not required to provide wall protection based on location on the lot.
Projections beyond the exterior wall shall not extend over the lot line.
iv. Detached garages accessory to a dwelling located within 2 feet of a lot line are permitted to have roof eave projections not exceeding 4 inches
v. Foundation vents installed in compliance with the IRC are permitted.
Table R302.1(1)
EXTERIOR WALL ELEMENT MINIMUM
FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING
MINIMUM FIRE
SEPARATION DISTANCE
Walls
Fire-resistance rated 1 hour—tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 or UL 263 with exposure from both sides < 5 feet
Not fire-resistance
rated 0 hours ≥ 5 feet
Projections
Fire-resistance
rated 1 hour on the underside ≥ 2 feet to < 5 feet
Not fire-resistance rated 0 hours ≥ 5 feet
Openings in
walls
Not allowed N/A < 3 feet
25% maximum of
wall area 0 hours 3 feet
Unlimited 0 hours 5 feet