How do I calculate Floor Area Ratio (FAR)?
Floor area ratio is defined as: a combination of any materials, whether portable or fixed, having a roof, enclosed within exterior walls, or fire walls, built to form a structure built to form a structure for the shelter of persons, animals or property…
Therefore, the following count towards gross floor area when computing FAR:
- All enclosed areas, whether finished or unfinished, where the height between a floor and ceiling construction is greater than six (6) feet without deduction for wall framing.
- Mechanical rooms, storage spaces, closets, built in cabinetry.
- Mezzanines and lofts
- Floor areas of stairways or other vertical circulation elements (counted on one floor level only)
- Porches with a solid roof and enclosure, including screens or lattice.
- Accessory buildings that meet the above floor to ceiling dimensions.
The following are considered excluded from gross floor area based on the above:
- Basements or attics (or portions thereof) that have a floor to ceiling construction of less than 6’
- Decks, patios, exterior balconies that do not have a solid roof
- Canopies that project from the structure but do not have enclosure
- Air space on upper level of a vaulted ceiling where the floor area is counted on the level below. A loft or mezzanine within such space is however counted as indicated above.