What is the minimum floor area for a habitable room?
Habitable rooms must have at least 70 square feet of floor area; kitchens are exempt (IRC R304.1).
The IRC requires every habitable room to have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m²).
Kitchens are specifically exempt from this minimum. The 2012 and 2015 editions no longer require any single room to reach 120 square feet, so 70 square feet is the governing minimum for habitable rooms.
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Need this scoped to your jurisdiction?
Adopted edition and local amendments vary by city and county. Ask Donnie checks your jurisdiction and cites the exact adopted section.
Ask Donnie →General information based on the International Residential Code (a model code). This is AI assistance to verify — not legal advice. Confirm the adopted edition and any local amendments with your local building department (AHJ) and a licensed professional before you build.