Bathroom Layout Guidelines and Requirements

Bathroom Planning Guideline 5: Single Lavatory Placement
Recommended: The distance from the centerline of the lavatory to the sidewall/tall obstacle should be at least 20 inches.

Code Requirement:

• The minimum distance from the centerline of the lavatory to a wall is 15 inches.
• The minimum distance between a wall and the edge of a freestanding or wall-hung lavatory is 4 inches.

Bathroom Planning Guideline 6: Double Lavatory Placement
Recommended: The distance between the centerlines of two lavatories should be at least 36 inches.

Code Requirement:

• The minimum distance between the centerlines of two lavatories should be at least 30 inches.
• The minimum distance between the edges of two freestanding or wall-hung lavatories is 4 inches.

Bathroom Planning Guideline 7: Lavatory/Vanity Height
Recommended: The height for a lavatory varies between 32-43 inches to fit the user.

Bathroom Planning Guideline 8: Countertop Edges
Recommended: Specify clipped or round corners rather than sharp edges on all counters.

Bathroom Planning Guideline 9: Shower Size
Recommended: The interior shower size is at least 36x36 inches.

Code Requirement: The minimum interior shower size is 30x30 inches or 900 square inches, in which a disc of 30 inches in diameter must fit.

Bathroom Planning Guideline 10: Tub/Shower Controls
Recommended:

• The shower controls should be accessible from both inside and outside the shower spray and be located between 38 to 48 inches above the floor, depending on user's height.
• The tub controls should be accessible from both inside and outside the tub and be located between the rim of the bathtub and 33 inches above the floor.