Definition: basement (General Definition)
A "basement", except where a base plane is used to determine building height, is a story (or portion of a story ) partly below curb level , with at least one-half of its height (measured from floor to ceiling) above curb level . On through lots , the curb level nearest to a story (or portion of a story ) shall be used to determine whether such story (or portion of a story ) is a basement . Where a base plane is used to determine building height, a basement is a story (or portion of a story ) partly below the base plane , with at least one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) above the base plane . In addition, the following rules shall apply: (a) When a sloping base plane is established, a basement is a story (or portion of a story ) partly below the street wall line level , with at least one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) above the street wall line level used to establish such base plane . On through lots , the street wall line level nearest to a story shall be used to determine whether such story or portion of a story is a basement . (b) All of the floor space with at least one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) above curb level shall be considered to be a basement where, subsequent to December 5, 1990, the level of any yard except that portion of a yard in front of the entrance to a garage on a zoning lot is lowered below the level of the base plane .