Determining a Story
San Diego Municipal Code § 113.0261
in effect§113.0261 Determining a Story
A story is that portion of a building between finish-floor elevations, between finish-floor and roof elevations, and between grade and finish-floor elevations.
(a) First Story
The first story is the lowest story or ground story of any building, the floor of which is not more than 2 feet, 6 inches above existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower, measured to the finish-floor elevation.
(b) Attic
An attic is a story if it meets one of the following criteria:
(1) It has a mansard or similar roof;
(2) It has a height that exceeds 7 feet, 6 inches from the finish-floor elevation to the peak of the roof immediately above;
(3) It has dormers projecting from a sloping roof where the attic can be used as a habitable area, unless the dormer is designed exclusively for ventilation and is not accessible from a habitable area; or
(4) The proposed floor area of the attic exceeds one-half of the floor area of the story immediately below.
(c) Penthouse
A penthouse is a story if it meets one of the following criteria:
(1) Its height above the roof line is more than 13 feet for an elevator shaft or more than 9 feet for a stairwell; or
(2) Its total plan area is more than 10 percent of the roof plan area of the building.
(d) Underground Parking Structures and Basements
Underground parking structures and basements are stories if there is a vertical distance, at any point, of 6 feet or more between existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower, and the finish-floor elevation immediately above. See Diagram 113-02FF.
Diagram 113-02FF
Underground Parking Structures and Basements
Building Outline
Vehicular Access Vehicular Building Openings STREET Grade Finish-floor
6' Max Vehicular Access
25' CL Max STREET CL Plan view Section view
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 11-13-2008 by O-19801 N.S.; effective 12-13-2008.)
(Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)
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/MuniCodeChapter11/Ch11Art03Division02.pdf#page=33Fetched: 10/28/2026