No person shall occupy or let to another for
occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living
therein, which does not comply with the following requirements.
A.
Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square
feet of floor space for the first occupant thereof and at least 100
additional square feet of floor space for every additional occupant
thereof, the floor space to be calculated on the basis of total habitable
room area, exclusive of stairways.
B.
In every dwelling unit of two or more rooms, every
room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain
at least 70 square feet of floor space. Every room occupied for sleeping
purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square
feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
A.
At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable
room shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet; and the floor
area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than
five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing
the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the
maximum permissible occupancy thereof.
B.
Every bathroom, toilet compartment, utility room,
hall and passageway shall have a clear ceiling height of at least
six feet eight inches.
A.
No cellar space shall be used as a habitable room
or dwelling unit.
B.
No basement space shall be used as a habitable room
or dwelling unit unless:
(1)
The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground
and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness.
(2)
The total of the window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum window area sizes as required by § 132-43 and is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area.
(3)
The total of openable window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum as required under § 132-44, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Housing Inspector.
(4)
There are no pipes, ducts or other obstructions less
than six feet six inches above the floor level.
(5)
All furnaces or other heating facilities are so located,
insulated and separated from the living area by fireproof partitions
or walls necessary pursuant to regulations of the Fire Chief so that
the same does not constitute an undue hazard to the safety and health
of the occupants.
C.
An interior room not having its own source of natural
light and ventilation may be used for living purposes, other than
sleeping, only where such room is adjacent to an outside room which
has adequate natural light and ventilation, calculated on the basis
of the combined floor area of the two rooms, and where the separating
wall between the two rooms has a clear horizontal opening, doorway
or archway at least six feet wide.
No dwelling or dwelling unit containing two
or more sleeping rooms shall have such rooms so located that access
to a bathroom or water closet compartment, 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 bathroom or water closet compartment.
A.
Safe exitway. Every dwelling unit shall have a safe
and unobstructed means of exit leading to a safe and open space at
ground level accessible to a street.
B.
Secondary exitway.
(1)
Buildings containing two or more dwelling units and
three or more stories in height above grade shall have a suitable
and separate secondary exit.
(2)
This secondary exit shall be made accessible by a
doorway or openable window to a protected stairway or fire escape
providing a safe path of escape in case of emergency.
C.
Direct access to exitway. Access to any exit required
by this section shall not necessitate passage through any other dwelling
unit or part thereof, nor shall any exit be subject to locking by
any device which impedes or prohibits ready exit.
D.
Window exits. Where the secondary exit is by means
of an openable window, the opening shall be at least five square feet
in area, with a minimum dimension of 20 inches. The bottom of the
opening or sill height shall not be more than three feet six inches
above the floor and shall lead directly to the fire escape. Where
storm windows, screens or burglar guards are used, these shall be
readily openable from the inside.
E.
Applicability. This section shall apply to all existing structures deemed subject to the provisions of this chapter by the Chief Housing Inspector of the City of Trenton in accordance with § 132-123, Applicability.
F.
Exceptions. The issuance of a valid certificate of
occupancy or continued certificate of occupancy by the Construction
Official with regard to buildings deemed subject to the provisions
of this section shall, in fact, satisfy the intent of this section.
The Chief Housing Inspector shall be empowered to grant reasonable
waivers in cases where strict compliance with the requirements hereof
would cause a hardship and where a waiver would not substantially
frustrate the purposes of this section.
