Are Rain Gutters Required By Code

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.

Are rain gutters required by code.

1106 6 size of roof gutters from the 2018 international plumbing code. In many parts of the country rain gutters are an absolute must and are integral in keeping water out of basements and preventing damage to homes. If gutters slope too severely they don t hold water and water could splash over the sides in heavy rain. However in areas like san diego orange county and other parts of southern california we are often praying for rain and do not seem to get enough rainfall to cause builders to automatically add a.

Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter. Some roofers even advise against them. 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. Plumbing codes typically use the vertically projected roof.

Gutters are not required by the international residential code irc or the residential edition of the florida building code fbc with two exceptions. So no gutters are not required by code but positive drainage away from a building foundation while controlling erosion is required by code. The amount of collected water increases until it spills over the sides of the gutter. How that is easily achieved in our area is by use of gutters and downspouts.

Available on the upcodes website. Downspouts and gutters are sized in relation to rainfall on this basis. In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts. 1 if the roof overhang eave is less than 6 inches.

They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Sunday august 23 2020. 2 if the home has a footing and foundation wall not a thickened edge concrete slab foundation like most newer homes and is in an area that has expansive clay or collapsible soils. See ubc 1804 7 no distance indicated.

The wikipedia article on gutters provides an accurate overview. The gutter slope also called the pitch is the amount the gutter tilts down to let rainwater flow out of it. If gutters don t slope water gathers in them. See ubc 1806 5 5 suggesting alternate methods possible.

Local codes may require that drainage systems only be designed for the latter. Averaging about 1 2 inch deep rain run off has washed roof granules down the flow line of the gutter.