Mezzanines, Codes and Permits

I find that the Mezzanine issue is one the most confusing subjects in the building code. Even people in the industry is not aware as to what a mezzanine actually is. The biggest misunderstanding here is how big the area can be before it gets classified as a floor. Here is the code reference- a mezzanine is not considered a storey/ floor if It less than 40% of the open area of the floor below.  Most of the contractors and designers who do not deal with mezzanines extensively think it is 40% of the area below. No,  it is 40% of the open area below. There is a big difference right away.
And here is another issue as well, some of these mezzanines gets approved at the City at development permit stage with oversized areas. Come building permit time, it gets a whole gamut of code issues. The way the permitting works in the City – development permit process is handled by planners and gets reviewed for building areas, density, zoning, parking. There might be a preliminary building code review. The project can get approved thru DP only to find at building permit stage that it’s not doable. IF it is doable, it can be very costly.
The mezzanine to me is a loophole to build a floor illegally- what happens after the mezzanine is built? Time and time again you see it, once the inspections are done and the occupancy permit is released-  there’s multiple rooms in the mezzanine, the area is expanded and technically it becomes a floor. It is a truly a safety issue which is not being properly addressed.


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