aaron, looks great man..you've inspired me to make a blog on my next rehab starting this weekend..my current project looks very similar to this..old real 2x4,6, and 8's next to newer ones where needed..looks funny with the real dimensions next to today's lumber..looks like you're vaulting the ceilings, but it's tough to tell fromthe angle of the pic???

Is there a recommended dimension I should be using?

Just recently I've include a sheet of paper with the "common" dimensions of household furniture {you might be surprised how many folks do not know the width or length of their queen bed}.

How would you figure that, if they are cleaning joists for example, are you calculating dimensions of both sides of joists, lot of calculation.

If I have room dimensions and a floor plan, I can create how I think the home would look to my personal style.

I do not know which bill you copied text it from, but refer to AB68 for the following:(A) One accessory dwelling unit and one junior accessory dwelling unit per lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling if all of the following apply:(i) The accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit is within the proposed space of a single-family dwelling or existing space of a single-family dwelling or accessory structure and may include an expansion of not more than 150 square feet beyond the same physical dimensions as the existing accessory structure.

These may not be on the shelf at HD, Lowe's, etc but they can order one.Even if you're replacing with one the same gallon size, measure the closet with your tape measure, and compare that to the dimensions in the new heater's manual, before you buy - they aren't all exactly the same. 

I am applying for some permits in Houston Texas, and one of the asks is to draw a diagram of the warehouse indicating dimensions of the premises in feet and inches, and show where all the doors are located.

Contractor can provide dimensions.

From union retirement funds in Ireland, the John Hancock's of wallstreet.... from Zanzabar too Aruba and all points in between there is literally TRILLIONS of dollars wrapped into mortgage securities, and your saying "yup, can just waive a magic wand and say it all stops"......Now that alone shows how foolish and childish naivety it is to say property ownership rights can just vanish, but there is multi-dimensions of this such as a little thing called contract law, THE CONSTITUTION, the supreme court, the Union itself, the NAHB, the NAR, the tens and hundreds of millions of Red White and Blue bleeding AMERICAN PATRIOTS who over their dead body would allow the US OF A to be turned into a Soviet Socialist Communist waste land!!!!!!