The Ontario Building Code | Occupant Load
9.9.1.3. Occupant Load
(1) Theoccupant load of a floor areaor part of a floor area, or of a building or part of a buildingnot having a floor area, shall be based on,
(a) two persons per sleeping room or sleeping area in a dwelling unit or suite, and
(b) for occupanciesother than as described in Clause (a), the number of persons,
(i) for which the area is designed, or
(ii) determined from Table 3.1.17.1.
9.9.2. Types and Purpose of Exits
In Plain Language
A building's occupant load, the anticipated number of people who could be present at once, is used to determine egress requirements as set out in this article.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.