For planning/permit etc.,is the footprint the required number, or do you add up room-by-room?
Seems silly, but…I dunno…….
Stupid Q #2….do you count porch square footage as “living space” as well?
TIA, cheers,Phil.
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For permits and such the square footage is the "architectural square footage", which is calculated from the exterior face of the foundation. You don't get to subtract walls. There are particular specifications about such things as overhanging rooms and such.
I don't believe porch space would count as "living space" because it's not enclosed nor heated.
The best thing to do is ask for the rules in writing from your building inspector or planning office. The next best thing is to ask them verbally. It's much better to portray yourself as a person cheerfully willing to comply with everything that's required, and asking them what they want starts you off on the right foot with them.
In my experience:
The standard in real estate and appraisal is that square footage is measured at the outside dimension of the home. Unheated spaces are noted as such. Basement is noted as such. It is only heated finished living space that counts as "square footage" of the home.
Something is what it does.
Don't forget the rule about stairways. Only count the stairwell footprint once, not once per floor.
there is a difference between appraisal and assessment figures and posssibly for permitting agencies in how they calc this.
Some land use permitting only looks at "footprint" the size and location of the shadow placed directly on the ground below the building, some figuring to roof edge and some to foundation only.
Our permit fees are ten cent per foot for finished living space and do include the stairwell twice. But five cents per foot for unfinished garages, decks and basements. A "crawl space" with no floor is not counted.
Some restrictive areas within 75' of the shore pays attention to volume the structure occupies.
Thje local agency is the only one to pay attention to for these ca;cs because all interpret differently.
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"For planning/permit etc.,is the footprint the required number, or do you add up room-by-room?"
Depends on the style of house. But foundation footprint usually. Examples of how it alone couldn't be used in and of itself......Raised ranch with a finished "basement" built into the side of a hill, 1.5 story cape, split level.
Jon
Check with your building codes office. For set back limitations in my area they count the roof overhang and the exterior steps, porches, decks and anything connected to the house.
Thanks all. The issue was brought up due to hearsay from the many neighbors of my clients, who all had differing stories to tell of their "knowledge" of local code.....If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.
In MO the real estate agents have gone with not using sq ft at all.
I will have to ask my RE agent friend for some more details, but I don't think that it is liked in the spec sheets either. I know that it is not in the ads.
I know that there have been some problems with sq ft in some parts of the country with complaints and/or lawsuite with buyers not getting what they thought that they where getting because of different ways of measuring.
I was shocked at the inaccuracy of sq footage when we were buying. The rule was to list the sq footage per the county records, but I'd often see 1200 sq ft listed for a single story 30x30 structure. Some of those bowed floors must have been hemispheres. It got to the point where I just started to measure anything I was interested in myself.
I speculate that the county was bumping up the numbers to either make real estate *appear* less expensive per sq ft, or they wanted to make *their* tax rate seem more reasonable per sq ft.
Given the degree to which they lied about our burden under their new local tax, I wouldn't put anything past them. On a positive note, petitions are being circulated to recall all of them.
My city requires anything that is hardcover to be considered as the "sq.ft.'calculation" Thus a porche is definately hardcover as is the steps and sidewalk..
you city may vary , objects in the mirror are closer than they apear, close cover before striking,....
Thus a porche is definately hardcover as is the steps and sidewalk.."
what if it is a Fiat? The govt has been known to issue them
;-)
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;-)
GROAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
My house has a mansard roof with the 2nd floor exterior walls sloping inward. We were told that the area with less that 5 foot headroom was not to be included in the square footage of the house.
I talked to my RA friend. She said that it is common practice here not to list sq ft at all, but there is an option to do so.
In fact she said that when she sells her house she will list it as it is in a speciallized neighbor hood (lake houses) and hers has more space than it "typical" (actually house her run from converted fishing cabins to teardown/replacement mansions).
If you are looking for a published standard for measuring square footage do a web search for the ANSI standard. This is the standard appraisers are supposed to use.
Mike K
Amateur Home Remodeler in Aurora, Illinois