What is the required overhead clearance for walkways?

The required overhead clearance for walkways is typically set at a minimum of 7 feet 6 inches. However, in many standardized practices or local regulations, this is rounded to 8 feet to accommodate varying types of uses, including pedestrian traffic, landscaping, and maintenance access.

Selecting 10 feet as the overhead clearance is often intended to provide a more generous space that can accommodate taller individuals, large equipment, or circumstances where taller objects may pass through, such as in commercial settings. This additional height can help improve safety by allowing for a wider margin of error, reducing the likelihood of accidents related to headroom.

While options like 12 feet or 14 feet may provide extra clearance, they exceed the typical requirement for standard walkways, making them impractical for most residential contexts and unnecessarily high for pedestrian traffic.

Thus, the choice of 10 feet acknowledges a balance between user comfort and safety while meeting and slightly exceeding standard expectations.