No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for
occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living,
sleeping, cooking or eating therein which does not comply with the
following requirements:
A.
Kitchen sink. Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in
good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer
system approved by the Department of Development and Enforcement.
B.
Flush water closet and lavatory basin. Every dwelling unit shall
contain a room which affords privacy to a person within the room and
which is equipped with a flush water closet and a lavatory basin in
good working condition and properly connected in a water and sewer
system approved by the Department of Development and Enforcement.
C.
Bathtub or shower. Every dwelling unit shall contain, within the
room which affords privacy to a person within the room, a bathtub
or shower in good working condition and properly connected to a water
and sewer system approved by the Department of Development and Enforcement.
E.
Rubbish storage facilities. Every dwelling unit shall have adequate
rubbish storage facilities whose type and location are approved by
the Department of Development and Enforcement.
F.
Garbage disposal facilities. Every dwelling unit shall have adequate
garbage disposal facilities of garbage containers whose type and location
are approved by the Department of Development and Enforcement.
G.
Hot water heating facilities. Every dwelling unit shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot-water lines required under the provisions of Subsection D of this section and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 110° F. or more than 120° F. Such supplied water heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this subsection whether the dwelling unit heating facilities required under the provisions of § 125-20 are or are not in operation.
H.
Every dwelling unit shall have safe unobstructed means of egress
leading to a safe and open space at ground level. The Director of
Development and Enforcement shall report any suspected violation to
the Fire Marshal or other responsible official.
I.
The Director of Development and Enforcement or designee, during a
housing code inspection, will note the presence of smoke detectors,
and report suspected violations to the Fire Marshal for further action.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for
occupancy any dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which
does not comply with the following requirements:
A.
Light: Every habitable space shall have at least one window of approved
size facing directly to the outdoors or to a court. The minimum total
glazed area for every habitable space shall be 8% of the floor area
of such room. Wherever walls or other portions of a structure face
a window of any room and such obstructions are located less than three
feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling
of the room, such window shall not be deemed to face directly to the
outdoors nor to a court and shall not be included as contributing
to the required minimum total window area for the room. Where natural
light for rooms or spaces without exterior glazing areas is provided
through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining
room shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the interior room or
space, but a minimum of 25 square feet. The exterior glazing area
shall be based on the total floor area being served. Any suspected
violation of this subsection shall be reported to the Building Official
and other officials responsible for further action.
B.
Ventilation: Where rooms and spaces without openings to the outdoors
are ventilated through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening
to the adjoining room shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the
interior room or space, but a minimum of 25 square feet. The ventilation
openings to the outdoors shall be based on the total floor area being
ventilated. Any suspected violation of this subsection shall be reported
to the Building Official and all other officials responsible for further
action.
C.
Light and ventilation of bathrooms and water closets. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in Subsections A and B of this section, 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 when in use and approved by the Department of Development and Enforcement.
D.
Electric service. Every habitable room of a dwelling unit shall contain
at least two separate floor or wall-type electric convenience outlets;
every kitchen shall contain at least two separate wall-type electric
convenience outlets and one supplied ceiling-type electric light fixture;
every water closet compartment and/or bathroom shall contain at least
one separate ground fault interrupter (GFI) electric convenience outlet
and one supplied ceiling or wall-type, switch-operated electric light
fixture; every laundry room and furnace room shall contain at least
one wall-type electric convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling
or wall-type electric light fixture. Every such outlet and fixture
shall be properly installed, shall be maintained in good and safe
working condition and shall be connected to the source of electric
power in a safe manner.
E.
Heating. Every dwelling shall have supplied 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 closets in every dwelling unit located therein.
Heat, where supplied by the owner, shall be supplied to a temperature
of at least 65° F. at a distance three feet above floor level.
F.
Screens. Every window or other device with openings to outdoor space
shall likewise be supplied with screens.
G.
Rodent control. Every basement or cellar window used or intended
to be used for ventilation, and every other opening to a basement,
which might provide an entry for rodents shall be supplied with a
screen or such other device as will effectively prevent their entrance.
No person shall 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.
Rooms for sleeping. 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, and 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.
B.
Access to bathroom; access to sleeping room. No dwelling or dwelling
unit containing two or more sleeping rooms shall have such arrangements
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 a bathroom or water closet compartment.
C.
Minimum ceiling height. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable
room in a multiple dwelling shall have a ceiling height of at least
seven feet, four inches, except for an attic room which shall be at
least seven feet high in 1/2 of its area; 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 room area in computing the floor
area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible
occupancy thereof.
D.
Cellar and basement occupancy. No cellar or basement shall be occupied
as a habitable room or dwelling unit, except as a workshop or recreation
room, unless it shall comply with applicable provisions of the City
of Meriden Building Code as applied to new construction in existing
buildings.
E.
Handrails and guardrails. Every exterior and interior flight of stairs
having more than four risers shall have a handrail on one side of
the stair and every open portion of a stair, landing, balcony, porch,
deck, ramp or other walking surface which is more than 30 inches above
the floor or grade below shall have guards. Handrails shall not be
less than 34 inches in height or more than 38 inches in height measured
vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor
of the landing or walking surfaces. Guards shall not be less than
36 inches in height above the floor of the landing, balcony, porch,
deck, ramp or other walking surface. Guardrails shall not be required
when exempted by the Building Code.
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 following requirements:
A.
Foundations, floors, walls, ceilings and roof. Every foundation,
floor, wall, ceiling and roof shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight
and rodentproof, shall be capable of affording privacy and shall be
kept in good repair.
B.
Windows, exterior doors and basement hatchways. Every window, exterior
door and basement hatchway shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight
and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good
repair.
C.
Stairs and porches. Every inside and outside stair, every porch and
every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to
use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to
be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
D.
Plumbing. Every plumbing fixture and water supply and waste pipe
shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working
condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions.
E.
Kitchen and bathroom floor surfaces. Every kitchen floor surface,
water closet compartment floor surface and bathroom floor surface
shall be constructed and maintained as to be reasonably impervious
to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean
and sanitary condition.
F.
Repair and safety of equipment. Every supplied facility, piece of
equipment or utility which is required under this chapter shall be
so constructed or installed that it will function safely and effectively
and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
G.
Removal of equipment or discontinuance of service. No owner or operator
shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility, which is
required under this chapter and supplied by him, to be removed from
or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling let by
him except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while
actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies
when discontinuance of service is approved by the Department of Development
and Enforcement.
H.
Vacant dwelling units to be clean before occupancy. No owner shall
occupy or let to any other occupant any vacant dwelling unit unless
it is clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy.
I.
Exterior facilities. All exterior wood surfaces shall be periodically
treated with a coating of paint or other suitable preservative. All
exterior siding shall be maintained in good repair. All exterior dwelling
components, including but not limited to chimneys, soffits, trim,
fascia, leaders and gutters, shall be maintained in good repair.
J.
Interior walls, ceilings and floors. Every interior wall, ceiling
and floor shall be maintained in a safe condition and kept in good
repair.
