Rules for Cutting Notches in Joists

What happens here

Notches, or cuts made into the edges of a joist, are even more critical than holes. Notches are strictly limited to the outside one-third sections of the joist's total length. For example, on a 12-foot joist, notches are only permitted in the first and last 4-foot sections, never in the middle 4-foot section. The depth of a notch depends on its location: at a bearing point, a notch can be up to one-quarter of the joist's depth, while in other allowed locations (within the outer thirds), it can be up to one-third of the depth. Always prioritize holes over notches when possible.

Goal: Properly locate and size notches cut into joists.