Short answer
Short answer
No. They are reported separately.
No. Porches, decks, balconies and patios are not finished, enclosed living space, so they are reported separately.
Why
ANSI Z765 counts finished area that can be used all year as part of the home. An open porch or a deck is outside that space, however nice it is.
Exceptions
- Sunrooms
- An enclosed room finished like the rest of the house and usable all year can count.
- Screened porches
- Screens alone do not make a porch finished living space.
- Listing services
- Many list outdoor space on its own line.
Example
Figure 1. House: 1,600 sq ft counts. Porch: 180 sq ft is shown on its own line.
| Area | Sq ft | Under ANSI Z765 |
|---|---|---|
| House | 1,600 | Counts toward the GLA |
| Porch | 180 | Reported separately |
Good to know
Keep the porch as its own room in your plan, so its size is on the plan without being in the total.
Source and version
The rule comes from ANSI Z765-2021, Square Footage: Method for Calculating (Home Innovation Research Labs), in our own words. Source checked on September 24, 2026; this page checked on September 27, 2026.