No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or
let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the
purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the requirements
of this article.
Every habitable room shall have at least one
window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total
window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall
be 10% of the floor area of such room. Whenever walls or other portions
of structures face a window of any such room and such light obstruction
structures are located less than three feet from the window and extend
to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall
not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included
as contributing to the required minimum total window area.
Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can easily be opened, or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total of openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size, as required in § 288-29, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Building Official.
Every bathroom and water closet compartment
shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable
rooms contained in this article, except that no window or skylight
shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closet
compartments equipped with a ventilation system which is kept in continuous
operation and approved by the Building Official.
Where there is electric service available from
power lines which are not more than 300 feet away from a dwelling,
every habitable room of such dwelling shall contain at least two separate
floor or wall-type electric convenience outlets, or one such convenience
outlet and one supplied ceiling-type electric light fixture, and every
water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and
public hall shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type
electric light fixture. Every such outlet and fixture shall be property
installed, shall be maintained in good and safe working condition,
and shall be connected to the source of electric power in a safe manner.
Fuses and fuse holders and boxes shall conform to safety standards
approved by the electrical inspector.
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities
which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working
condition, and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable
rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit
located therein to a temperature of at least 70° F. at a distance
three feet above floor level, during an outside temperature of 0°
F. winter conditions.
Every public hall and stairway in every multiple
dwelling containing five or more dwelling units shall be adequately
lighted at all times. Every public hall and stairway in structures
devoted solely to dwelling occupancy and containing not more than
four dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light
switches, controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned
on when needed, instead of full-time lighting.
