Picture a long three-lane bowling alley. In your center lane is the kitchen island-the island is the kitchen. Near one end of the island, centered in the counter, is a deep one bowl sink-usable by anyone from either side of the island. Near the other end is the two-burner cooktop. In the center is the prep counter with 2 barstools on both sides. The refrigerator is built into the freestanding wall that faces the sink end of the island. Behind the refrigerator wall is the bathroom on one side, and the laundry/utilities on the other. Do building codes require that a bathroom have its own separate sink? Thanks-p.s. Where in America are the most conservative and liberal building codes?
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" Where in America are the most conservative and liberal building codes?"
There are about 20 - 25 states that don't have state wide building codes for single family houses. However, in those some of the cities do have there own codes.
But in those areas that don't have codes you can use the creek for washing your hands and the stove can be a firefire on top of the counter top. But if you do that have a high ceiling.
Rural areas are your best bet in Oregon. Some counties have their own little code variations and , of course most cities have to get their shot in.
In my limited experience, generally speaking, most jurisdictions base their requirements on the CABO or Uniform Building codes with regional requirements for seismic, frost depth, high wind etc.
Usually when I have a question like yours, I'll call our local inspector, play stupid, make him feel important and I usually get a straight answer.
I`m not sure whether its required or not but considering you`re surrounded by water and waste lines, why wouldn`t you?
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I'd put in the bathroom sink. You really want to
brush your teeth in the shower or at the kitchen island?
Where are you going to use the blow dryer, curling iron, etc.
Lavatories are cheap. Even if you're building a very small
place, build it good. A lot of code requirements are for
good reasons. Just because they don't have as many code
requirements in some rural locations doesn't mean you should
try and get around the UBC. You'll regret it if you try to
do too much of that. You can build in some parts of Oregon
with no inspections at all. You can build in Fairfax county
Virginia and have an inspector reject every darned thing you do.
They still build ticky-tack pieces of garbage, but all the
code requirements are satisfied. Got a dozen inspections,
but you still can build a house with 2x3 exterior walls, single
top plate, styrofoam sheathing and not an ounce of copper in
the plumbing system. Chances that the house will be a heap
of rubble long before the mortgage is paid off.
Thanks, all. Just playing with the puzzle pieces-wondered if I could sacrifice the sink to increase the shower, since the other sink is close by.