Ohio says ceiling should be 7 feet in livable areas. No drywall installed as a ceiling, only floor joists. Is it still 7 feet or does that fall under the 6 feet 4 inch requirement? Is it really considered finished if there is no ceiling installed?
Probably not , but personally I’d leave that decision up to the local code authority and appraiser.
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Post a link to your reference source.
https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/OHBC2024P1/chapter-12-interior-environment/OHBC2024P1-Ch12-Sec1208.2#:~:text=Occupiable%20spaces%2C%20habitable%20spaces%20and,mm)%20above%20the%20finished%20floor.
Is this not from the Building Code and not the Residental Code?
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I think this is what you are looking for…
# 305.1.1 Basements.
Portions of basements that do not contain habitable space or hallways shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).
Exceptions:
-
- At beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions, the ceiling height shall be not less than 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) from the finished floor.
-
- Habitable spaces created in existing basements shall be permitted to have ceiling heights of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm). Obstructions may project to within 6 feet 4 inches of the basement floor.
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Scott understands it!
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The AJ appendix of the 2021 IRC says this about existing basements:
AJ110.4 Ceiling height. Habitable spaces created in existing
basements shall have ceiling heights of not less than 6
feet, 8 inches (2032 mm), except that the ceiling height at
obstructions shall be not less than 6 feet 4 inches (1930 mm)
from the basement floor. Existing finished ceiling heights in
nonhabitable spaces in basements shall not be reduced.
Many of the homes I inspect (including the one I own) did not have finished basements when they were built and initially sold. Usually the first owner finished the basement.
Tiny houses (less than 400 sq.ft.) have their own requirements in appendix AQ:
AQ103.1 Minimum ceiling height. Habitable space and
hallways in tiny houses shall have a ceiling height of not less
than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm). Bathrooms, toilet rooms and
kitchens shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 4
inches (1930 mm). Obstructions including, but not limited
to, beams, girders, ducts and lighting, shall not extend below
these minimum ceiling heights.
Your answer generally depends on when, what, where and why you are citing code in a particular home.
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According to Nick, it’s 2 stories!
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My new basement has a ceiling height of 17 feet: www.nickgc.com/2-story
are you planning on flying kites down there ???
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