# Do You Need a Hearth if a Fireplace Is Not Close to the Ground?
Regional building code imposes masonry fireplace and hearth design and construction regulations, such as minimum clearances for fireplace hearths. Check with your local city hall or county building inspector for exact hearth requirements in your area.
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Codes
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Regulations regarding fireplaces are meant for your safety. In addition to local building codes, your fireplace hearth may also need to comply with national, state and international laws. The style of home (one- or two-family, for example) and the location of the fireplace in your house may also come into play.
States
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Some states -- such as California and New York -- have specific building codes that cover the materials used to build fireplaces and hearths, in addition to clearances.
History
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According to Buckley Rumford Fireplaces, codes previously used in the United States have included BOCA, NFPA, UBC, SBCCI and One and Two Family. These codes have merged into one International Building Code (IBC) and a residential counterpart, the International Residential Code (IRC).
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Fireplaces
- Building Codes for Fireplace Surrounds
- The Forgotten Art of Building a Good Fireplace
- Do I Need to Close the Chimney Flue if I Use Gas?
- Can You Close the Flue When a Gas Fireplace Is Off?
- What Happens When You Close the Fireplace Flue?
- What is the Difference Between a Hearth and a Fireplace?
- Building a Fire in the Fireplace
- Ohio Fireplace Building Codes
- Does a Fireplace Burning Propane Need the Damper Open?
- Building Codes for a Residential Fireplace
- Wisconsin State Building Codes for Fireplaces
- Ground Floor Basement Building Codes
