A. 
Buildings occupied in whole or in part as defined in this chapter shall comply with the requirements hereinafter set forth concerning occupancy, size, light and ventilation in order to provide a safe and healthful environment.
B. 
The term "accessory use" shall have a uniform meaning and shall apply in the same manner and under the same conditions or restrictions to all buildings.
A. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum gross floor area of 324 square feet for the first person, 40 square feet for the second person and 100 square feet for each occupant thereafter.
B. 
Lodging units shall contain a minimum gross floor area of 150 square feet for the first person, 40 square feet for the second person and 80 square feet for each additional person.
C. 
Rooming units shall contain a minimum gross floor area of 80 square feet of habitable space per occupant.
D. 
In buildings occupied as clubs, dormitories or sorority or fraternity houses and providing sleeping accommodations for more than five persons, the maximum number of occupants so accommodated in any habitable room shall be limited to the number determined on the basis of the floor area, in square feet, of the room divided by 80 square feet per occupant.
A. 
It shall be prohibited to use for sleeping purposes any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space. Public space shall be permitted to be used for temporary shelter in cases of declared emergencies.
B. 
It shall be prohibited, in lodging houses and rooming houses, to use for dining purposes any communal kitchen containing less than 120 square feet of floor area or any nonhabitable space or public space other than dining space.
C. 
It shall be prohibited to prepare meals in hotel, lodging and dormitory units which have no kitchen or kitchenette.
D. 
It shall be prohibited to use any cellar or basement as habitable space except as provided in § 475-16B.
E. 
It shall be prohibited to utilize more than 50% of the gross square feet of floor area within a residential dwelling for a professional office or home occupation.
F. 
It shall be prohibited to occupy or use for residential purposes the residential part of a mixed occupancy, if the nonresidential part of such building is classified for use as a high-hazard occupancy or if the nonresidential use is obnoxious or offensive to the residential occupancy or use.
G. 
It shall be prohibited to have a home occupation which produces offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust or other particulate matter, odorous matter, heat, humidity, glare or other objectionable effects.
A. 
Size.
(1) 
All habitable space shall have the minimum ceiling height required by the applicable building code at the time of construction or change of occupancy, except that for habitable space under a sloping roof, the minimum height in at least 50% of the floor area shall be seven feet, and the area where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered in computing required floor area.
(2) 
Every alcove less than 60 square feet in area, except a cooking space or foyer, shall be deemed to be part of habitable room. The area of the opening in the dividing partition between the alcove and the room shall be at least 80% of the wall area of such partition, measured on the alcove side, but not less than 40 square feet. The depth of such alcove shall not exceed 1/2 its width. The floor area of the alcove shall be added to the floor area of the room in determining light and ventilation requirements for the room. An alcove with an area of 60 square feet or more, but less than the required area of habitable room, shall be separately lighted and ventilated as required for habitable space.
(3) 
Every bedroom shall have a minimum floor area of 80 square feet with a minimum horizontal dimension of eight feet.
B. 
Basement and cellars.
(1) 
Rooms providing facilities for recreation and which may also have facilities for incidental food preparation may be located in a cellar or a basement.
(2) 
Basements may be used as habitable space if the basement complies with all of the requirements for habitable space.
(3) 
Cellars may be used as habitable space, provided that the cellar complies with all the following requirements:
(a) 
The grade adjoining one exterior wall for the entire width of the habitable space is at or lower than the floor level of the habitable space.
(b) 
The depth is not more than four times the height.
(c) 
Walls of cellars shall be constructed to prevent condensation forming thereon when the relative humidity in the habitable area is 35%.
(d) 
Such space conforms to all other requirements for habitable space.
C. 
Light and ventilation.
(1) 
Habitable space, except kitchens, shall be provided with natural light through one or more windows, skylights, transparent or translucent panels or any combinations thereof that face directly on legal spaces at least six inches above the adjoining finished grade or are above a roof. The amount of light required for each room shall be equivalent to that transmitted through clear glass equal in area to 8% of the floor area of the habitable space.
(2) 
Habitable space shall be provided with electric light.
(3) 
Habitable space shall be provided with natural ventilation through operable parts of windows or other openings in exterior walls that face legal open spaces above the adjoining finished grade or above a roof or through operable parts of skylights, providing total clear ventilation area equal to not less than 4% of the total floor area of each habitable space.
(4) 
All window sash shall be glazed and provided with suitable hardware for locking and keeping the window in an open position.
(5) 
Kitchens and bathrooms also may be provided with mechanical ventilation in lieu of or in addition to natural ventilation.
(6) 
Clothes dryer venting systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall be vented in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, so as not to deposit lint on adjacent properties.
D. 
Miscellaneous requirements.
(1) 
Dwelling units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the dwelling unit.
(2) 
Sleeping rooms within dwelling units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the sleeping rooms to provide privacy.
(3) 
Lodging units and boarding units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the lodging units.
(4) 
A communal kitchen, bathroom or dining room in a lodging house shall be accessible to the occupants sharing such kitchen, bathroom or dining room without going through a dwelling unit or lodging unit of another occupant.
A. 
Height. Assembly space shall have a minimum height of seven feet six inches measured from finished floor to finished ceiling for fewer than 100 people. For over 100 people, the minimum height is eight feet.
B. 
Light and ventilation.
(1) 
Public spaces shall be provided with electric light.
(2) 
In public stairs, stairways and passageways, electric lighting shall be available at all times so as to afford safe passage for occupants and users. Such lighting shall conform to the requirements of § 475-39B(2)(a) of this chapter.
(3) 
Public spaces shall be provided with either natural ventilation, conforming to the requirements for habitable space, or other mechanical ventilation.
A. 
Height. Nonhabitable space, except crawl spaces and attics, in buildings shall have a minimum height of seven feet measured from floor to ceiling.
B. 
Toilet rooms and bathrooms.
(1) 
Toilet rooms and bathrooms shall have provisions for privacy.
(2) 
Toilet rooms and bathrooms for dwelling units in multiple dwellings, containing transient occupancies, shall be located within the dwelling units and shall be accessible from any sleeping room without passing through another sleeping room.
(3) 
Unless located within dwelling units or directly connected with sleeping rooms, toilet rooms and bathrooms in multiple dwellings shall be provided in each story containing habitable space and shall be accessible thereto.
(4) 
Toilet rooms for employees shall be in separate rooms for each sex where there are five or more employees, shall be readily accessible to such employees and shall not open directly into any public kitchen or other public space used for the cooking or preparation of food.
(5) 
In all buildings, floors of bathrooms, toilet rooms and similar spaces shall be moisture-resistant; such moisture-resistance shall extend four inches or more above floors except at doors, so that floors can be flushed or washed without leaking. Walls shall be constructed or covered with a moisture-resistant material.
(6) 
All shower enclosures shall have a waterproof floor and water-resistant walls.
C. 
Light and ventilation.
(1) 
Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with electric light appropriate for the use of such rooms.
(2) 
Laundry rooms, furnace rooms and similar nonhabitable space shall be provided with electric light appropriate for the intended use of such rooms.
(3) 
Stairs shall be provided with electric light to allow safe ascent or descent.
(4) 
Kitchenettes and bathrooms shall be provided with ventilation in accordance with either of the following:
(a) 
Natural ventilation as required for habitable space, except that such operable areas shall be not fewer than 1 1/2 square feet for bathrooms or toilet rooms and not less than three square feet for kitchenettes; or
(b) 
Mechanical ventilation exhausting not less than one cubic foot per minute (CFM) for each square foot of floor area for bathrooms and toilet rooms and not less than two CFM for each square foot of floor area of kitchenettes.
(5) 
Spaces in multiple dwellings which contain central heat-producing, air-conditioning and other equipment shall be ventilated to the outer air, and air from these spaces shall not be recirculated to other parts of the building.
(6) 
Ventilation shall be provided in unheated attics, spaces below flat roofs and in crawl spaces. Location and net areas of ventilation openings shall be such as to minimize deterioration of structural members from condensation or other causes, in conformity with generally accepted standards.
(7) 
Shower rooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms and laundry rooms shall be provided with either natural or mechanical ventilation.
(8) 
Garages within or accessory to multiple dwellings shall be provided with electric light.
All spaces to be used for food preparation shall contain suitable space and equipment to store, prepare and serve foods in a sanitary manner. There shall be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food wastes and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage.
Where injurious, toxic, irritating or noxious fumes, gases, dust, mists or offensive odors are generated, a local exhaust ventilation system shall be provided to remove the contaminating agent at the source. Air shall be exhausted to the exterior so as not to injure, irritate or offend occupants of the building or any neighboring building or the general public and not recirculated to any space.
A. 
Stairs, both interior and exterior, shall be of sufficient width in conformity with generally accepted standards so as to serve the occupants.
B. 
Railings, banisters and/or guardrails shall be provided on open portions of stairs, balconies, landings, stairwells and accessible roofs and shall be installed in conformity with generally accepted standards.
C. 
Stairs or steps of more than three risers shall have a handrail or railing parallel to the stair slope on at least one side. Where one or both sides of such stairs or steps are open and such stairs or steps exceed six feet in width, railings shall be provided on open sides.
D. 
Landings, platforms and porches more than 18 inches above the adjacent floor or grade level shall be provided with railings on the open sides, except where openings are required for access.
A. 
Safe, continuous and unobstructed exits shall be maintained from the interior of the building to the exterior at street or grade level.
B. 
Exits shall be arranged, constructed and proportioned so that occupants may escape safely from the building in case of emergency.
C. 
In one- and two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings, in addition to a primary exit from the building, there shall be provided an opening for emergency egress in habitable space. Openings for emergency use shall be as defined in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
D. 
In all other structures and buildings, approved exits shall be provided.
E. 
Nothing shall be placed, accumulated or stored which obstructs egress from stairways, passages, doors, windows, fire escapes or other means of egress.