A.
Connection to City services. Each dwelling or other
building used for human habitation or other buildings where human
beings are in need of sewer and water facilities which is located
upon or adjacent to any street in and along which sewer and water
pipes have been laid or which has reasonable access to sewer or water
mains shall be connected with the sewer and water systems; except
that when a private well is in compliance with the Wisconsin Well
Code, is adequate and safe, this supply may be continued in operation
until such time as it is in need of repair. If the owner fails to
comply with a notice in writing served upon him or his agent or tenant
requiring him to connect with the public sewer or water within 30
days, the Board of Health may cause a connection to be made and necessary
fixtures to be installed and the cost shall be assessed as a special
tax against the property. The owner may file, within 30 days, a claim
of inability to pay the amount in one sum, and ask that the levy be
made in five equal installments with interest at 11.5%.
B.
Connection to septic tank. The owners of all premises
used for human habitation which are not located upon or adjacent to
any street in and along which sewer and water pipes have been laid
or which have no reasonable access to sewer or water mains must provide
a septic tank-seepage pit system therefor, constructed and maintained
in accordance with the requirements of this code. All other privy
vaults, cesspools and dry wells shall be removed or abated and the
use thereof discontinued. Where no City sewer facilities are available
to service a dwelling unit, the following shall apply:
1.
No person shall construct a septic tank, seepage pit or disposal
field within the City without first having obtained a permit from
the La Crosse County Health Department.
2.
No person shall build, erect or construct any seepage pit, septic
tank or cesspool within five feet of the property line or fence of
the adjacent lot, or within 20 feet of any building in which people
live or work.
3.
Whenever a seepage pit or septic tank is cleaned, the contents must
be disposed of in the facilities at a municipal disposal plant.
A.
Every habitable room, bathroom and kitchen shall contain at least
one fully operational electrified outlet and one switched lighting
outlet properly installed and maintained in good and safe working
condition and connected to an approved source of power in a safe and
approved manner as per the Wisconsin Electrical Code.
A.
Natural light. Every habitable room shall be provided
with natural light by means of glazed openings per § SPS
321.05(1) Wis. Adm. Code.
B.
Adequate ventilation. Every habitable room shall be
provided with natural ventilation per § SPS 321.05(2) Wis.
Adm. Code.
C.
Electric outlets required. Every electrical receptacle,
switch and fixture shall be maintained in reasonably good working
condition, and shall be installed according to applicable electrical
codes and manufacturer's instructions.
D.
Heating facilities. Every dwelling shall be equipped
with a heating system. The system shall be properly installed, maintained
in reasonably good working condition, and capable of adequately heating
all habitable rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and toilet rooms contained
therein, or intended for use by the occupants thereof, to a temperature
of at least 70° F., at a distance three feet above floor level
when the outdoor temperature is at or above 15° below 0° F.
Every central heating system must be listed by a recognized testing
agency and shall comply with all of the following requirements:
1.
The central heating unit shall be in reasonably good operating condition;
2.
Every heat duct, steam pipe and hot water pipe shall be free of leaks
and shall function so that an adequate amount of heat is delivered
where intended;
3.
Every seal between the sections of a hot air furnace shall be tight
so noxious gases will not escape into heat ducts. Every supplied space
heater must be listed by a recognized testing agency and shall comply
with all of the following requirements:
a.
No space heater burning solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels shall
be a portable type;
b.
Every space heater burning solid, liquid or gaseous fuels shall
be properly vented to a chimney or duct leading to outdoor space;
c.
Every coal, wood or other approved combustible material burning
space heater shall have a fire-resistant panel, extending a minimum
of 18 inches on all sides, beneath it;
d.
Every space heater location shall comply with § SPS
323.04, Wis. Adm. Code; and
e.
Every space heater chimney connector shall comply with § SPS
323.045(4), Wis. Adm. Code.
E.
Lighting of public halls and stairways. Every public
stairway, passageway or exit door in every dwelling containing four
or more dwelling units shall be adequately lighted by means of properly
located electric light fixtures from one hour before sunset to one
hour after sunrise. Every public hall and stairway in dwellings containing
two or three dwelling units shall be supplied with convenient light
switches controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned
on when needed, instead of full-time lighting.
A.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let another for occupancy,
any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purposes of living, sleeping,
cooking, and/or eating of meals therein, which does not comply with
the following minimum requirements:
1.
Kitchen. Every dwelling unit shall have a kitchen equipped
with the following:
a.
A kitchen sink in good working condition that is properly connected
to heated and unheated water supplies and waste pipes. Any provided
dishwasher and components of the sink, including disposal and water
filtration devices, shall be in good working condition and properly
connected.
b.
A counter for food preparation and cabinets and/or shelves sufficient
to store occupants' food that does not require refrigeration and eating,
drinking, and food preparation equipment. Cabinets shall be of sound
construction and furnished with surfaces that are impervious to water,
smooth and cleanable.
c.
A range for cooking food. The range shall be properly
installed with all necessary connections for safe and efficient operation
and shall be maintained in good working condition. The range shall
include an oven unless both a separate oven, other than a microwave
oven, and a cooktop are provided. A hot plate is not an acceptable
substitute for burners on a range or cooktop. The range or cooktop
shall have a vertical clearance of not less than 30 inches from above
its surface to unprotected combustible material. Reduced clearances
are permitted in accordance with the listing and labeling of the range
hood.
i.
Exception. If the lease or rental agreement does
not provide for a range for cooking food, adequate connections for
the occupant's installation and operation of a range shall be provided.
d.
Ventilation which shall be maintained in good working condition,
of sufficient capacity to deliver fresh air and to remove moisture-laden
or otherwise contaminated air generated during cooking. Range hoods
shall be installed in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.
e.
A refrigerator with a freezer which shall be in good working
condition and capable of maintaining a temperature less than 41°
F. but more than 32° F. The freezer section shall be capable of
maintaining a temperature below 0° F.
i.
Exception. If the lease or rental agreement does
not provide for a refrigerator, adequate connections for the occupant's
installation and operation of a refrigerator shall be provided.
f.
A kitchen floor in good condition with a sealed, water-resistant,
nonabsorbent and cleanable surface.
2.
Bathroom. Every dwelling unit shall have a private bathroom
equipped with the following:
a.
A toilet in good working condition that is sealed to the waste
pipe and affixed to the floor and properly connected to both the dwelling's
water supply and a waste pipe leading to an approved sewage system
or private waste disposal system.
b.
A sink in good working condition, with a stable connection to
the wall or secure attachment to the floor that is properly connected
to the heated and unheated potable water supply and a sealed trap
leading to a waste pipe.
c.
A bathtub or shower in good working condition that is properly
connected to the heated and unheated potable water supply and a waste
pipe. Every bathtub shall have a wall covering extending at least
48 inches above the joint between the bathtub and wall, and every
shower shall have a wall covering extending at least 72 inches above
the floor of the shower stall, which is cleanable, nonabsorbent, and
reasonably impervious to moisture. Such materials shall form a watertight
joint with each other and with the bathtub or shower.
d.
A bathroom floor that is so constructed and maintained as to
be reasonably impervious to moisture and all such floor and floor
coverings shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
e.
Bathroom ventilation in accordance with § SPS 323.02(3)(d),
Wis. Adm. Code.
3.
Maintenance of supplied plumbing fixtures. Every supplied
plumbing fixture, water distribution system and waste or vent pipe
shall be properly installed and maintained in good, sanitary working
condition.
4.
Safe and effective functioning of supplied facilities. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment, or utility which is
required under this chapter shall be so constructed or installed that
it will function properly and shall be maintained in reasonably good
working condition.
5.
Discontinuance of required services, facilities, equipment,
or utilities. No owner or operator shall cause any service,
facility, equipment, or utility which is required to be supplied under
the provisions of this chapter to be removed from, or shut off from,
or discontinued for any occupied dwelling or dwelling unit let or
occupied by him/her, except for such temporary interruption as may
be necessary while actual repairs, replacements, or alterations are
in the process of being made.
6.
Garbage disposal facilities. Every dwelling unit shall
have adequate garbage disposal facilities or garbage containers.
A.
No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling
unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with
the following requirements:
1.
Minimum ceiling height. The minimum ceiling height of
every dwelling unit shall be in accordance with § SPS 321.06,
Wis. Adm. Code, and the floor area of that part of any room where
the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered
a part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the
room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy
thereof.
2.
Minimum floor area for dwelling unit. Every dwelling
unit consisting of only one habitable room shall contain at least
150 square feet of habitable room floor area.
3.
Minimum floor area for occupancy by more than one occupant. No dwelling unit containing less than 170 square feet of habitable
room floor area shall be occupied by more than one occupant, provided
that if a dwelling unit consisting of only one habitable room has
a closet with a minimum ceiling height of six feet contained within
the dwelling unit and connected thereto with a doorway or other similar
opening, the actual floor area of the closet, up to and including
a maximum of 20 square feet, shall be included in computing the habitable
room floor area of the dwelling unit.
4.
Maximum occupancy for one-room dwelling unit. No dwelling
unit consisting of only one habitable room shall be occupied by more
than two occupants.
5.
Maximum occupancy for dwelling units of two or more rooms. No dwelling unit consisting of two or more rooms shall be occupied
by more occupants than the total number which is calculated on the
following basis:
|
Type of Room
|
Occupancy Subtotal
|
|---|---|
|
Kitchen
|
0
|
|
Each habitable room containing less than 70 square feet of floor
area
|
0
|
|
Each habitable room containing at least 70 but less than 100
square feet of floor area
|
1
|
|
Each habitable room containing 100 or more square feet of floor
area
|
2
|
6.
Arrangement of sleeping, bath and toilet rooms. No dwelling
or dwelling unit containing two or more sleeping rooms shall have
such room arrangements that access to a bathroom or toilet room intended
for use by occupants of more than one sleeping room can be had only
by going through another sleeping room; nor shall room arrangements
be such that access to a sleeping room can be had only by going through
another sleeping room or a bathroom or toilet room.
7.
Cellar space not habitable. No cellar space shall be
used as a habitable room or dwelling unit.
8.
Basement space may be habitable. No basement space shall
be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
a.
The floor and walls are of waterproof and dampproof construction;
b.
The total of window area in each room is equal to at least the
minimum window area sizes as required in § SPS 321.05(1),
Wis. Adm. Code;
c.
Exiting from the basement shall be in accordance with § SPS
321.03(5) and/or (6), Wis. Adm. Code;
d.
The total of openable window area in each room is equal to at
least the minimum as required under § SPS 321.05(2), Wis.
Adm. Code, except where there is supplied some other approved device
affording adequate ventilation.
