Definition: cellar (General Definition)
A "cellar," except where a base plane is used to determine building height, is a space wholly or partly below curb level , with more than one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) below curb level . On through lots , the curb level nearest to such space shall be used to determine whether such space is a cellar . Where a base plane is used to determine building height, a cellar is a space wholly or partly below the base plane , with more than one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) below the base plane . In addition, the following rules shall apply: (a) When a sloping base plane is established, a cellar is a space wholly or partly below the street wall line level , with more than one-half its height (measured from floor to ceiling) below the street wall line level used to establish such base plane . On through lots , the street wall line level nearest to such space shall be used to determine whether such space is a cellar . (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 .