• Site location; the net acres suitable for building, site shape and topography
• Prior zoning: Can the site be rezoned for church use?
• Environmental factor:  Was the site ever a dump or an old factory?
• Verify that the site has all the utilities available, especially water and sewer
• The land purchase agreement with the prior owner('s) should be with continuances such as zoning approval, favorable environmental study results and utility availability
• Verify that the purchase option or agreement will give you enough time to do the above items.  In most cases, 1 year will be favorable.
• Churches may also want to consider purchasing existing property with large vacant buildings to be renovated.  This may be a viable option, but consider the initial cost of property, renovation cost and location.  Verify the environmental status of the existing site and building.

Site Planning - Consider the following guidelines for facilities when relocating or purchasing land:

• Rural areas: 200 people per acre
• Suburban areas: 150 people per acre
• Within major city limits:  75 to 100 people per acre
• Due to the requirements of local municipalities concerning storm water, retention/detention and green space requirements, the acres required may vary.  In any case, the above is based on net acres (suitable acres for building and not gross acreage). 
• Additional items to be concerned with when purchasing property

• Check with local officials to verify the property or any portion of the property is not in a flood plain or floodway.
• Check and verify that no portion of the property is wetland.
• In some cases existing properties may have sinkholes. These are visible conditions, usually with undergrowth and trees around them. You might also see a depression in which drainage collects. Be very careful of a site with these conditions. 
• If the property is in a rural area and a septic system is required make sure the soil type is conducive for septic tanks and septic field installation. Some health departments will not allow septic systems in certain types of soils.
• Visit the site, consider the slope, make sure at least 40% of the acreage is flat or of minor slope to build on.
• Last consider accessibility to the site. If the property has a major highway at one side and county roads on the other the access to the site will be less expensive from the county road than from the major highway, in most cases. 

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• The parking ratio should be an important item in your planning.
• 1 space for every 3 occupants seated in the sanctuary will meet or exceed most code requirements.  *For parking requirements, check with local zoning officials.  Many have a 1to 4 ratio. (in some case you may want to consider a 1:2 ratio)
• Standard parking space: dimension requirement is 180 sq ft per car,  10' x 18' stall or 9' x 20' stall

• Parking ground coverage: assumes efficient layout with parking on both sides of driving lanes and allowing for some landscaping and general access
• Using 350 sq ft per car stall and drive equates to 124.45 cars per acre
• Using 300 sq ft per car stall and drive equates to 145.2 cars per acre
• Using 400 sq ft per car stall and drive equates to 108.9 cars per acre
• with cars being downsized, we feel a fair and reasonable ratio would be 124 cars per acre

• Handicapped parking space:  8' x 18', with 5' access aisle
• Van accessible parking space:  8' x 18', with 8' access aisle  (access aisle can be shared by two parking spaces)

*Note:  90 degree parking on both sides of two-way driving lanes is generally the most efficient layout for parking.

• The following requirements from the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) may be used as guidelines.  (Local handicapped parking requirements may vary.  Check local requirements for your area.)

*Note:  one in every eight accessible spaces, but not less than one must be van accessible.

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Sanctuary:

• Up to 300 capacity: 17 sq ft per person
• Above 300 capacity: 13 sq ft per person

Choir Area:

• Minimum:  10-12 percent of congregation capacity
• Maximum:  most larger churches are 35 percent of congregation capacity
• Choir rows: 36 inch square minimum depth. 42 inch is preferred
• Front and back rows: 3 feet, 8 inches minimum depth
• Movable chairs at 24 inches width per person and 36 inches back to back

Stage/Pulpit Platform - platforms vary in size depending on use during praise and worship

• Front to back:  7-15 feet minimum; larger buildings may require 25 feet or more
• Height (based on flat floor in seating area): with fewer than eleven rows of congregational seating: 3 feet maximum
• With up to eighteen rows of congregational seating this may require a tiered platform area
• Distance from front row/seat to platform:  10 feet minimum; larger buildings may require 12 feet minimum.  Some cases may require 25' or more 

Congregational Seating:  

• Local building codes should be consulted for minimum requirements
• Row spacing: 36 inches minimum between rows, 38 inches or more recommended
• Row lengths and seating: average space per person is 18 inches for pew width: 24 persons maximum per row
• Most code requires 18 inches per seat for pews and 7 sq ft for chair area without fixed seats - this would equate to the following:  500 seat auditorium = 750  lineal feet of pews required in the layout.  In reality only 80 percent of this capacity is the real seating.  So the actual sanctuary is 400, because not every person is comfortable in 18 inches.
• For chairs you would need 13 sq ft  (The 13 square feet includes access aisles, space in front of chair, and the chair itself) Chairs come in various sizes, 21 to 22 inches in width should be considered in the planning stages. 

Handicapped seating:  The following guidelines are from the (ADA)  Americans Disabilities Act for worship centers with fixed seating:

Capacity of seating in assembly areas	Number of required wheelchair locations
4 to 25	1
26 to 50	2
51 to 300	4
301 to 500	6
500 +	6, plus 1 additional space for each total seating capacity increase of 100

• Aisle widths (check local codes):  Center or main aisle 5 feet minimum; 6 feet or more recommended
• Side aisles: 3 feet, some codes require 4 feet

Baptistry:

• Baptistries come in various sizes and capacities depending upon the manufacturer
• Inside pool dimensions:  4 feet by 7 feet minimum, plus internal steps; larger sizes are recommended
• Water depth:  between 3 feet 6 inches and 3 feet 8 inches
• Baptistry floor: is generally 39 inches above last choir row 

Balcony Area:

• Balcony location layout and size is based on site lines 
• Good site lines are the controlling factor when locating a balcony
• A rear loaded balcony is best for site lines
• Capacity:  less than 50 percent of main floor seating
• Riser depth:  3 feet
• Cross aisles:  4 feet minimum - on a rear loaded balcony, you will not have any cross aisles.
• Other aisles:  same width as the main floor
• Stairwells:  code may require one exit to be directly to the outside; additional stairs may be desired based on design

Vestibule/Lobby:

• Serving worship: 2 to 3 sq ft per seat in worship center 
• Fellowship lobby serving worship center and education space: 20 to 27 percent of the worship center area

Steeple Height:

• May be equal to distance between roof ridge and ground level or same height as building.  May be controlled by local building requirements

• In most cases, these areas should be designed to suit the individual church body

• General building size incorporating education, fellowship, administration, music and media library with some multi-purpose space:

• First unit building: 30 to 40 square feet per person
• Small churches: 40 to 45 square feet per person
• Large churches with extensive programs: 45 to 55 square feet per person

Nursery and Preschool:

• Space per child: 35 square feet recommended
• Room size:  12 feet  x 18 feet or larger
• Windowsills:  24 inches from floor minimum
• For a daycare:  You must check the state and local codes for detailed requirements.  Most will have to have windows or doors for emergency exits.

Weekday Child Care:

• Space per child:  35 square feet recommended
• Outdoor recreation area:  75 square feet per child minimum, or as required by state and local codes
• Rooms require grade level location, often with direct access to exits

Elementary Students:

• Space per child: 25 square feet recommended
• Room proportions:  rectangle or square room configuration
• Windowsills:  24 inches to 30 inches from floor
• Room capacity:  24 maximum (600 sq ft maximum recommended size)

Youth and Adults

• Classrooms: 12 to 15 square feet recommended space per person (Code required 20 square feet)

• Overall building size incorporating junior and high school basketball court, restrooms, central desk and storage:

• 60 feet x 100 feet, 6,000 square feet minimum
• 70 feet x120 feet, 8,400 square feet recommended, this allows for some spectator area

General Requirements:

(Court size taken from architectural standards)

• Basketball court: clear ceiling height 20 feet minimum, 25 feet desirable
• Side and end lanes: 4 feet minimum, 8 feet preferred
• High school court:  50 x 84 feet

• Room size:  70 x 120 feet preferred, plus 3 feet for each additional row of spectator seating

• Junior high school:  42 x 74 feet (a junior high court is recommended for most churches)

• 62 x 94 feet preferred, plus 3 feet for each additional row of spectator seating

• Racquetball/handball courts:  20 x 40 feet, 20 foot ceiling height
• Game room:  24 x 30 feet to 40 x 60 feet or more
• Group meeting rooms: 15 square feet per person with tables and chairs
• Storage: should have direct access from gymnasium, with double-wide doors for roll-in table/chair carts

• There should be separate storage space for recreational equipment, craft supplies, kitchen pantry and janitorial supplies and equipment

• Restrooms: should be sized in accordance with the amount of seating capacity available when gym is in use for fellowship functions, full table and chair layout
• Showers with dressing room and lockers: must meet handicapped requirements (ADA)

Administrative:

• Pastor's study: 250 to 325 sq ft; 140 sq ft minimum
• Staff offices: 150 to 200 sq ft; 120 sq ft minimum
• Other office space is based on church needs: additional staff offices, workrooms, reception area, storage/closets, restrooms, lounge, kitchenette

Fellowship Hall:

• Dining capacity: 50 percent of sanctuary seating capacity. 
• Space required for table seating: 15 sq ft per person

Kitchen:

• Commercial kitchen: The kitchen size will vary with layout of function. In most cases a kitchen will require all stainless steel equipment.  The cooking line should be located on an exterior wall for hood exhaust.
• Warming kitchen:  A less costly means - would have two residential dishwashers, two microwaves and two ranges. This would be used to warm food and would meet the requirements for a warming kitchen in most areas.

Restrooms:

• Minimum number of fixtures must comply with local codes
    The following chart contains recommended guidelines.

• Preschool rooms should have direct access to a restroom (This restroom can be shared by two preschool rooms)
• It is recommended that churches provide a diaper changing table in at least one restroom for each sex
• Handicapped access must comply with ADA codes.  These codes usually require at least one fixture of each type to be accessible to wheelchairs in each public restroom.

Other Building Concerns

Mechanical Rooms:

• Space requirements vary with region and equipment
• Consider equipment and air flow noise in the worship center
• Zone equipment so various program areas can be heated and cooled independently

Custodial Closets/Areas:

• Provide one closet for each approximate 10,000 sq ft of building
• No building area should be farther than 150 feet from a closet with a sink
• A minimum of one closet should be provided for each major building area and each building level 
• Preferred location for custodial closets:  between restrooms, near elevators and near heavy traffic areas
• Custodial closets should be separate from utility rooms housing telephone switch gear, elevator equipment, electrical panels, HVAC equipment, etc.