Are Gutters Required By Code

1 if the roof overhang eave is less than 6 inches.

Are gutters required by code.

Plumbing codes typically use the vertically projected roof. Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter. Gutters and downspouts are not required in dry b climates as shown in the iecc climate zone map 2009 iecc figure 301 1 and table 301 1. Downspouts and gutters are sized in relation to rainfall on this basis.

On the other hand section r405 1 does require foundation drainage and provides fairly elaborate direction due to the importance of keeping basements dry. Local codes may require that drainage systems only be designed for the latter. From my cursory knowledge of building code gutters are never explicitly required although r 801 3 requires some controlled method of drainage 5 ft from the foundation walls or to an approved drainage system. It takes 96 15 square feet 8 93 square meters of surface with 1 inch per hour 25 mm hr of water to correspond with 1 gpm 0 063 l s flow rate.

International energy conservation code iecc climate regions. Sunday august 23 2020. Do southern california homes need rain gutters. Section r903 4 prescribes drainage requirements only for those roofs that do not drain over roof edges traditional pitched roofs do not need gutters and downspouts to satisfy code.

In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts. They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Gutters are not required by the international residential code irc or the residential edition of the florida building code fbc with two exceptions.