Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
4 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Basement considered a story if floor above more than this heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above grade4 ft
If the finished floor level directly above a basement or cellar is more than four feet above a grade at any point, the basement or cellar shall be considered a story.
- Chimney heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. exceedance allowance5 ft
A chimney may exceed the permitted height by five feet.
- Maximum wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for half story3 ft
A half story is that portion of a building under a gable, hip or gambrel roof where the top of at least two opposite exterior walls is not more than three feet high
- Maximum vertically contiguous storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code.2.5 storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code.
no more than two and one-half stories are vertically contiguous at any one point
From the ordinance
The height of a structure shall be measured perpendicular from the existing grade. A chimney may exceed the permitted height by five feet. ... For purposes of determining compliance with the two and one-half story limitation provided in Section 17.4.2, a story is the portion of a building between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor directly above... A half story is that portion of a building under a gable, hip or gambrel roof where the top of at least two opposite exterior walls is not more than three feet high... If the finished floor level directly above a basement or cellar is more than four feet above a grade at any point, the basement or cellar shall be considered a story. ... A structure may have multiple levels such as a split-level or stepped-foundation design, so long as: (1) no more than two and one-half stories are vertically contiguous at any one point; and (2) the maximum building height and the maximum aggregate building height specified in Section 17.4.2 are not exceeded.