Basement vs Cellar Difference Explained by Architect Jorge Fontan

There is a difference between a basement and a cellar. They are not the same thing.
A basement is more than 50% above grade.
A cellar is more than 50% below grade.
You can put an apartment in basement but you cannot have an apartment in a cellar. Habitable space or dwelling units cannot be within a cellar with the exception of accessory space.
If you would like to read a blog post I wrote on the difference between a cellar and basement here is a link:
fontanarchitecture.com/cellar...
If you want to learn more about Jorge Fontan or Fontan Architecture please check out our website:
fontanarchitecture.com/
Follow Fontan Architecture on Instagram - / fontanarchitecture
#basementvscellar #basement #cellar

[@ev.ervisual]

Straighforward and very informative. Thank you!

[@JorgeFontan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@eieiross]

thank you so much!

[@lovelyheart8098]

Cool video! Now i know if cellar or basements are da same!!! Thx for making these video!

[@Qletty]

Wow I'm very thankful with the clear, short and ease way how you explain it.
1 Q: If the seller can't be include on ft of property, can be use for a medical office? (No body going to sleep in there and medical Office, is community facility)

[@melotone3305]

Very interesting and well presented. So now I'm thinking that I need to re-evaluate my conception of many Craftsman homes that I see (from the road) as more than likely having cellars rather than basements. I don't know if California codes are stringent on the distinction. Don't often see the word "clear" used on the large real estate marketing websites. Maybe they are worried that out hear people think of wine when they encounter the word cellar.

[@allenk5493]

Hi Jorge. When you say you get your interior dimensions by measuring from the top of the floor to the bottom of the ceiling, is this the finished floor and finished ceiling? If I have mechanicals and ductwork in the ceiling and it lowers my finished ceiling, is the measurement to the finished ceiling or above the mechanicals and ductwork? Thank you!

[@kyie803]

Would you say it's possible based on these definitions that a building could have both a basement and a cellar then? In the case of a brownstone style building with a "garden" level, that might be partially below grade and partially above grade (which I think would qualify it as a basement), but it might also have a cellar below that which is 100% below grade. Does that logic have any merit?

[@narsingkopo8267]

great video

[@JorgeFontan]

Thank You for watching.

[@lovelyheart8098]

😉

[@MrDanthemaniam]

I never heard of this before in 40 years of building. These definitions may prevail in NY but they do not in the Mid-west.

[@JorgeFontan]

I am talking about New York City building and zoning codes.

[@ortegajones4929]

@@JorgeFontan Not even in NY. A basement is not a story brother. it has to be fully above ground to be a story. Not even partially.

[@JorgeFontan]

@@ortegajones4929 As per New York City Zoning Resolution it is.

[@cabinetsfactory]

Can a cellar shows in CO change to basement?

[@lovelyheart8098]

I love cellars! Like slendrina the cellar and slenderina the cellar 2!

[@ortegajones4929]

I'm in nyc too and a basement does not count as a story either. A story has to be fully above ground.

[@jeep4k967]

Sos buwa it