Ceiling height: 7 ft minimum for habitable spaces; 6 ft 8 in for bath / toilet / laundry
2025 RCNYS §R313.1 Ceiling heightDescription
Habitable space, hallways, and basements containing habitable space must have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms may drop to 6 ft 8 in. Sloped-ceiling rooms: the required floor area must have ceiling ≥ 5 ft; 50%+ of the required floor area must have ceiling ≥ 7 ft. Beams, girders, ducts, and similar obstructions in basements containing habitable space may project to within 6 ft 4 in of the floor. Beams ≥ 36 in apart may project not more than 78 in from the floor.
Why this exists
Ceiling height shapes how a space feels as much as its plan dimensions. 7 ft is the absolute minimum; 8-9 ft is the modern residential norm; 10+ ft for principal rooms reads as luxe. The bath/laundry allowance lets architects squeeze a powder bath under a stair landing without code conflict.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
habitable | min | 7 | ft | Habitable space ceiling |
bathLaundry | min | 6.667 | ft (6'8") | Bath / toilet / laundry ceiling |
basementBeamProjection | min | 6.333 | ft (6'4") | Basement beam underside |
Categories
Applies to
- Jurisdiction: New York State
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Garage / dwelling fire separation · IRC R302.6
- Habitable space minimum ceiling height · IRC R305.1
- Egress window net opening dimensions · IRC R310.2
- Stair riser, tread, and headroom · IRC R311.7
- Smoke alarms required throughout dwelling · IRC R314
Last reviewed 2026-05-15.