California IDEX Practice Exam

All of the following are necessary to determine if a room is an accessory occupancy EXCEPT that the room must...

1. Exceed 750 s.f.

2. Be 10% or less of the main occupancy.

3. Not be listed as an incidental use area.

4. Be used in conjunction with the main occupancy.

The correct answer is: Exceed 750 s.f.

The correct answer relates to the criteria for defining an accessory occupancy. For a room to qualify as an accessory occupancy, it must be secondary to the main purpose of the building or space. The key factors typically assessed include the size of the accessory space relative to the main occupancy, the intended use of the space, and its operational relationship with the primary occupancy. The first choice, which suggests the room must exceed 750 square feet, is unnecessary because the size threshold does not inherently determine if a space is accessory. In many instances, an accessory occupancy can be considerably smaller than 750 square feet while still serving its purpose as a secondary area complementing the main occupancy. The other criteria ensure that the space is not overly large relative to the main use (10% or less), is not classified as an incidental use area (which has different regulatory implications), and is indeed utilized in conjunction with the primary purpose of the building.