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Bathroom Rough-In Specs
Select a fixture to see FL code-compliant rough-in dimensions. All dimensions in inches unless noted.
FL Code Clearance Summary
Fixture
Side Clearance
Front Clearance
Between Fixtures
Toilet
15" CL to wall (18" FL preferred)
21" min (24" FL preferred)
30" CL to CL
Lavatory
15" from any obstruction
21" min
30" CL to CL
Walk-In Shower
—
24" in front
N/A
Bathtub
—
24" one long side
N/A
Bidet
15" CL to wall
21" min
30" CL to CL
Urinal
15" CL to wall
21" min
30" CL to CL
FL Code Notes — Bathroom Plumbing
📋 FPC 2023 Table 405.3 — Clearances ▼
Florida has adopted the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with FL amendments. Table 405.3 sets minimum clearances for plumbing fixtures. FL additionally requires 18" from toilet centerline to side wall in all NEW construction (15" is code minimum, 18" is FL standard of practice). Front clearance of 24" is strongly recommended by FL Building Officials.
Any residential bathroom remodel pulling a permit in FL must meet current clearance standards if any fixture is being relocated. Like-for-like replacement of the same fixture in the same location does not require clearance upgrades.
🔧 FL Shower Pan Requirements ▼
All showers in FL require either: (1) a pre-fab shower receptor (fiberglass/acrylic); or (2) a tile-ready foam shower base; or (3) a traditional lead or PVC shower pan liner with mortar bed.
Liner requirements (if tiled): PVC shower liner min 40 mil (0.040"), run up walls 3" above curb height. Liner must be flood-tested (fill with water 2" above threshold) for 24 hours before inspection.
Shower drain minimum: 2" IPS for residential showers. Tile-ready pans must slope 1/4" per foot to drain. FL inspectors commonly fail showers with insufficient slope — verify with a 4' level during installation.
🏠 Slab-on-Grade Rough-In (FL Specific) ▼
Most FL homes are slab-on-grade construction. All DWV rough-in is done BEFORE the slab is poured, making accuracy critical. Common FL slab rough-in issues:
1. All pipe penetrations through slab must be sleeved (Schedule 40 PVC sleeve 2 sizes larger than carrier pipe). 2. Toilet flange must be at or above finished floor level — FL inspectors commonly fail flanges that are below tile level. 3. All slab penetration locations must match blueprint exactly — no post-pour relocations without expensive saw-cutting. 4. Underground PVC must be Schedule 40 minimum — Schedule 20 (thin wall) is NOT permitted under slab in FL. 5. All underground copper must be sleeved in PVC — bare copper underground is prohibited in FL high-soil-corrosion areas.
🌡️ Water Heater Rough-In in FL ▼
FL-specific water heater requirements:
1. Overflow pan: REQUIRED under ALL water heaters in FL, regardless of location. Pan drain must extend to exterior or safe termination (not over finished ceiling). 2. Expansion tank: Required on all water heaters where a backflow preventer or pressure reducing valve is on the main supply. 3. T&P valve drain line: must be same diameter as T&P valve outlet (usually 3/4"), must terminate 6"–18" above floor drain or outside, must NOT use PVC within 18" of valve outlet (must be copper, CPVC, or corrugated SS). 4. Gas water heaters in FL: Earthquake straps required in coastal counties. All gas connections must be union fittings for service access. 5. Electric water heaters: 240V, 30-amp dedicated circuit minimum. Wire into disconnect switch within 3 feet of WH in FL (required by FL amendment).
Kitchen & Utility Rough-In
Select a fixture to see FL code-compliant rough-in dimensions.
FL-Specific Kitchen & Utility Code Notes
💧 Washing Machine Overflow Pan — FL Required ▼
Florida Building Code requires a washing machine overflow pan with drain in ALL installations where the washing machine is located over a finished living space, whether the same floor or a floor above finished rooms. The pan must be 24" × 24" minimum (or sized to contain the washer footprint) with a minimum 1" depth and a 3/4" drain to exterior or approved drain location. This is one of the most commonly missed items in FL construction.
🍽️ Dishwasher High-Loop / Air Gap — FL Rules ▼
FL requires either a high-loop (drain line looped up to underside of counter before connecting to disposal or drain) or an air gap fitting mounted on the sink deck. Air gaps are required where local codes or health departments specify (common in FL coastal counties). High-loop is acceptable per base FL code but air gaps are strongly recommended by FL health departments in areas with potential backflow risks. The dishwasher drain connection must be above the trap arm of the sink drain — never below the water level in the trap.
🧊 Ice Maker Line Requirements in FL ▼
FL has updated requirements for ice maker connections. Old-style saddle valves (self-piercing saddle taps on copper pipe) are now generally prohibited in FL for new construction and permitted remodels. Current FL standard requires: (1) a tee fitting with a proper 1/4" ball valve or angle stop; (2) 1/4" OD copper, CPVC, or PEX tubing to refrigerator location; (3) compression fitting at refrigerator (not a saddle valve). Maximum run length: 25 feet from shutoff to refrigerator location without re-sizing.
♨️ Pot Filler FL Code Requirements ▼
Pot fillers in FL must have: (1) an integral shutoff at the wall connection — not just the articulating arm valves; (2) anti-siphon protection (either by elevation above flood rim or integral check valve); (3) 1/2" supply line minimum; (4) rough-in height typically 78" AFF (may vary by range height + hood clearance). Pot fillers require a separate permit in most FL counties as they add a new fixture to the supply system. Some FL water authorities also require a backflow preventer at the connection if adding to an existing system with a backflow preventer on the main.
🔄 FL AAV Rules for Kitchen/Utility Venting ▼
Air Admittance Valves (AAVs, sometimes called Studor vents) are permitted in FL for limited use only. FL allows AAVs for: island sink venting where running a vent through the floor is impractical; under-cabinet fixture venting in remodels; utility sink additions. FL does NOT allow AAVs for: main stack venting; toilets (toilet vents must always connect to true vent or stack vent); any application where the AAV would serve as the ONLY vent for an entire branch. AAVs must be accessible (not permanently enclosed in walls) and must be installed per manufacturer specs (minimum 4" above trap arm).
FL Material Approvals — Supply & DWV
Material
Supply
DWV
Underground
FL Note
Type L Copper
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
With sleeve
Standard for FL supply
Type M Copper
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
Not recommended
Thin wall, FL soils
PEX-A
✓ Approved
Not for DWV
With sleeve
Most popular in new FL construction
PEX-B / PEX-C
✓ Approved
Not for DWV
With sleeve
FL approved, Zurn/Uponor fittings
CPVC
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
Common in FL commercial
PVC Sch 40 (DWV)
Not for supply
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
FL standard DWV material
ABS
Not for supply
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
Less common in FL
Cast Iron
Not for supply
✓ Approved
✓ Approved
Preferred for stacks in FL (noise)
Polybutylene (PB)
PROHIBITED
PROHIBITED
PROHIBITED
Class action recall — never use
Galvanized Steel
Replacement only
Replacement only
Not recommended
Cannot use in new FL construction
FL Inspection Checklist
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⚠️ 15 Most Common FL Inspection Failures
DFU (Drain Fixture Unit) Reference
Use DFU values to size drain pipes. Required by FL Plumbing Code Table 709.1.
Fixture
Private (DFU)
Public (DFU)
Trap Size
Toilet
4
6
Floor flange
Bathtub
2
2
1-1/2"
Shower
2
2
2"
Lavatory (sink)
1
2
1-1/4" or 1-1/2"
Kitchen Sink
2
4
1-1/2"
Dishwasher
2
2
Connects to K sink
Garbage Disposal
+2
+2
Add to K sink
Clothes Washer
3
3
2" standpipe
Floor Drain
2
2
2"
Laundry Tub
2
2
1-1/2"
Bidet
2
2
1-1/2"
Urinal
4
4
2"
Mop Sink
3
3
2"
Drinking Fountain
1
1
1-1/4"
Food Service Sink
2
2
1-1/2"
Minimum Drain Pipe Size by DFU Load
Pipe Size
Max DFU (Horizontal)
Max DFU (Vertical)
Note
1-1/4"
1
2
Lavatory only
1-1/2"
3
4
No toilet
2"
6
10
No toilet on 2" horizontal
3"
20
48
No toilet on 3" horizontal
4"
160
240
Max for residential stack
5"
360
540
Commercial
6"
620
960
Commercial
Venting Guide — What FL Allows
Vent Type
FL Allowed?
Use Case
Individual Vent
Yes — Preferred
One fixture, direct to stack or roof
Common Vent
Yes
Two fixtures on same horizontal branch
Wet Vent
Yes — limited
Bath group fixtures, sized up
Circuit Vent
Yes
Battery of fixtures, commercial
Stack Vent
Yes
Top of soil stack extended through roof
AAV (Air Admittance Valve)
Limited use
Islands, remodels — cannot serve main stack or toilet
Cheater Vent (auto vent)
Not allowed
Old style spring-loaded — not FL code
Water Supply Sizing Guide (FL Residential)
Supply Size
Max Fixtures
Max Length
Pressure Drop/100ft
1/2" copper
1–3 fixtures
30 ft from manifold
~10 PSI
3/4" copper
4–8 fixtures
60 ft from main
~4 PSI
1" copper
9–15 fixtures
100 ft from main
~2 PSI
1/2" PEX
1–2 fixtures
25 ft from manifold
~12 PSI
3/4" PEX
3–6 fixtures
50 ft from manifold
~5 PSI
1" PEX
7–12 fixtures
80 ft from main
~3 PSI
Plumbing Glossary
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🔧 Common Rough-In Mistakes We Fix
1Toilet drain too far from wall (wrong rough-in distance for toilet purchased)
2Missing expansion tank with PRV or backflow preventer on main
3Shower drain too shallow — liner can't seal properly, fails flood test
4Vent pipe too small for toilet (FL requires 2" minimum toilet vent)
5Horizontal drain run with wrong slope — too flat (backup risk) or too steep (solids strand)
6Water heater T&P valve discharge line wrong — too long, too small, or wrong material
7Washing machine standpipe wrong height — must be 18"–48" AFF in FL
8Underground copper pipe not sleeved through slab penetration