Building Height & Vents

[Tom Parks]

This may be may be more of a zoning question than building code question, but here goes.

We recently had a project where the chimney required for the the fireplace (Class "A" chimney, wood burning fireplace) would have to extend 24" up above the ridge of the house, which was already at maximum height for the building type and zone.

In the past I've had the same situation where the local ordinance specifically said that mechanical vents were excluded from the maximum height limit, but this particular town had no such exclusion mentioned. The local authority said the fireplace could not be installed because the chimney would exceed the maximum height.

How do you interpret? Is the required chimney (or any other vent, installed as required) included in the total height or not? What about weathervanes? Lightning rods? Architectural details like finials?

The local AHJ has the final say, obviously.

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[Garry Sorrells]

Tom,
You answered your own question.

"....The local authority said the fireplace could not be installed because the chimney would exceed the maximum height. ..."