Calculating Gross Floor Area
San Diego Municipal Code § 159.0111
in effect§159.0111 Calculating Gross Floor Area
(a) For the purpose of calculating Floor Area Ratio (FAR) the gross area shall consist of the total horizontal area expressed in square feet, of all the floors of a building included within the surrounding walls, including shafts, enclosed stairwells at all levels, and above ground parking structures.
(b) For the purpose of common area allocations to different uses, all common areas (hallways, service areas, mechanical equipment rooms, etc.) shall be allocated to each use based on the percent of gross floor area occupied by each use.
(c) Gross area shall include:
(1) Enclosed stairwells and ramps, above ground structures and exterior elevator shafts.
(2) The floor area of mezzanines and other similar interior balconies.
(3) Half stories (attics), as described in Land Development Code Section 113.0103 and Chapter 11, Article 3, Division 2 (Rules for Calculation and Measurement) basements and cellars. Areas of basements, and cellars utilized exclusively for parking are not included in the calculation of gross floor area.
(4) Penthouses as described in Land Development Code Section 113.0103 and Chapter 11, Article 3, Division 2 (Rules for Calculation and Measurement) shall be included in gross floor area, except when meeting the following criteria:
(A) The enclosure must be used exclusively for housing elevator mechanical equipment or stairs;
(B) The height of enclosures above the roofline is no more than 13 feet for an elevator shaft nor more than 9 feet for a stairwell;
(C) The total plan area of an enclosure or enclosures is not more than 10 percent of the roof plan area of the building.
(5) Any roofed area where more than 75 percent of the perimeter is enclosed by walls or windows.
(“Calculating Gross Floor Area” added 3-27-2007 by O-19595 N.S.; effective 4-26-2007.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter15/Ch15Art09Division01.pdf#page=7Fetched: 10/28/2026