What classifies a livable space?

Author: Abby Rodriguez II  |  Last update: Monday, May 12, 2025

Livable space is the measurement that includes only space that you commonly use or is available for everyday use. Of the three types, livable space has the smallest square footage. You likely won't live in the storage areas, hallways, and closets. Those areas aren't included in the square footage measurements.

What is legally considered a living space?

In order to be considered habitable space, someone must be able to live there year round and eat, cook, sleep etc in the space. It must be protected from the elements, including heated. An unfinished basement or attic is not considered living space, nor is a garage area.

What constitutes livable space?

Depending on where you are buying a home, there are legal definitions around livable space that require spaces like a basement to be finished, heated and ventilated, partially or fully above-ground, and to have an entrance or exit to the outside for safety reasons.

What is classified as a living space?

[MP] LIVING SPACE. Space within a dwelling unit utilized for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, bathing, washing and sanitation purposes.

What is considered habitable space?

HABITABLE SPACE. HABITABLE SPACE is space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilets, hallways, storage areas, closets, or utility rooms and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.

Everything About Living in Space

What is classed as a habitable space?

A habitable room is a term used in building codes to identify a space within a residence used for living, sleeping, (and, with some exceptions) cooking. These habitable rooms have specific requirements, such as windows, to provide natural light and air.

What is the minimum size for living space?

Space standards for new dwelling houses

According to the nationally described space standard, the minimum floor area of any new home should be 37 square metres. In 2017, the government set out further internal area requirements for bedrooms in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

What is not considered living space?

An attic, while a useful storage area, is not living space. Same with the garage or basement space that is not finished. Even some spaces over a garage are not considered “Living Area”. It depends on the home designer and the specific home plan.

What is the legal definition of a living room?

Living room means a habitable room within a dwelling unit which is used, or intended to be used, primarily for general living purposes.

Is a garage considered livable in square footage?

When calculating the total amount of livable space in a house, a garage typically isn't included in the calculation of square footage. Since they are largely used to store vehicles as well as tools, equipment, and other stuff, garages are often not included in the square footage calculation.

How do you calculate livable space?

Draw a rough sketch of your entire space, labeling all of the rooms you need to measure. Include hallways and vestibules as their own “room.” Measure the length and width, in feet, of each room. Then, multiply the length by the width to calculate that room's square footage.

What is a non living space?

Non-Habitable: Space in a structure that is not used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking, such as, but not limited to, garages, toilet compartments, closets, utility spaces or similar areas. Commercial and industrial structures do not have habitable space.

Is an enclosed porch considered living space?

Answer: Typically, enclosed patio spaces are not included in the square footage of houses, save for cases where the patio actually looks like a part of the home as opposed to an extension of the property. In most cases however, it's the quality of the patio that is called into question.

What is the definition of livable space?

Livable space is the measurement that includes only space that you commonly use or is available for everyday use. Of the three types, livable space has the smallest square footage. You likely won't live in the storage areas, hallways, and closets. Those areas aren't included in the square footage measurements.

What legally defines living somewhere?

It can be a house, apartment, or any other dwelling where someone makes their home. Residence also refers to the act of living somewhere for a period of time. A state may define this length of time and provide certain privileges only to residents of the state. [Last updated in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

What are living spaces?

Living Spaces is an American furniture retail chain based in La Mirada, California.

What qualifies as a living space?

As a result, the living space actually includes only those rooms that serve for living, living and residence in the house or apartment. Typical rooms included in the living space are living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, an office or a study in the apartment, bathroom, separate toilet, kitchen and dining room.

What are the minimum requirements for living room?

The Minimum Standard Living Room Size (Small Living Room)

But ideally, it should be about 200 square feet (18.6 square meters). The minimum width of your living room should be 11 to 12 feet (3.35 to 3.65 meters). This is extremely tight, and if you have the space, try to make the width at least 14 feet (4.27 meters).

What makes a room a living room?

Living rooms are usually one of the largest rooms of a house, located either in the middle of a house or in the front (where they're often called 'front rooms'). The reason living rooms are more spacious is to accommodate large couches, TVs and entertainment centers, and other ornamental storage units.

What is the legal definition of a living space?

Living Space means the climate-controlled area within a Dwelling used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking purposes and excluding such areas as closets, garages, attics, and utility spaces.

What is not a habitable room?

Typically, habitable rooms provide the living accommodation of the dwelling. They include living room, dining room, study, home office, conservatory and bedrooms. They exclude the bathroom, WC, utility room, storeroom, circulation space and kitchen (unless it provides space for dining).

What is a habitable living space?

[BG] HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.

What makes a space livable?

There are generally 3 main criteria for what makes interior space count as living area. The space has to be heated, finished and accessible. To begin, the space has to be heated. The heat source has to be a conventional heating system.

What is the minimum square footage for living?

A common belief is that 200–400 square feet is necessary for each member living in a home. For a family of five, that range becomes 1,000–2,000. However, other sources recommend 600–700 square feet per person, with others going as high as 1,000 square feet per person.

What is considered a small living space?

Small and Tiny Size Living Room

A small-sized living room is about 10 x 13 ft., and a 2-seater sofa together with two chairs could fit four to five people. On the other hand, a 7 x 10 ft. space can fit a tiny living room. This space is very small but can fit a small two-seater sofa on one side.

Previous article
What are the negatives of Dekton?
Next article
How long do whole house tankless water heaters last?