Basement Advice

Building Codes

The good news is you don't have to become intimate with your local building codes to plan your basement-remodeling project. The even better news is that your local building official is there to help you achieve what you want from your project and obtain a building permit.

Building codes are designed to protect the structural integrity of your home as well as remove potential threats to your health and safety. For your first visit with the building official, be prepared to describe your project—even if your ideas are rough—and ask what building codes would apply in your situation. Bring along a rough sketch of the available basement space, as well as the location and dimensions of all windows, doors, and mechanical systems, to make your visit even more productive. Don't be discouraged if local codes call for standards that you apparently can't meet. If safety or practicality isn't compromised, many building officials are willing to make exceptions to accommodate existing homes.

For example, you may discover from building officials that the International Residential Code requires basement rooms to have a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet (84 inches) over at least 50 percent of the floor area. Bathrooms, hallways, and task areas can have ceilings that dip as low as 76 inches in some locations. Armed with this information, you can find out if you have enough room to create a new living area. Simply measure the distance between the floor and the bottom of the ceiling joists. Subtract a couple of inches from your figures to allow for finished floor and ceiling materials.

Other elements are governed by codes, such as requirements that smoke detectors be installed in every sleeping room and in hallways leading to them. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required by code, but it's a good idea to install them near all sleeping areas. Better yet, place one next to the smoke detector in each bedroom. Building codes also govern construction materials for fire safety.