This article, Housing Requirements, in its entirety shall apply to all dwellings, and dwelling units for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking, or eating meals therein, and as applicable, pursuant to the State Building Code if any in effect at the time the structure, addition, or portion thereof was/is constructed.
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 meals therein which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Bath. Every dwelling unit shall contain a bath which shall be contained within a toilet room or within a separate room which affords privacy to a person using such facility.
B. 
Carbon monoxide detection and smoke detection.
(1) 
Carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed and maintained in a good and operable condition at all times pursuant to 2007 Wisconsin Act 205[1] and State Building Codes §§ SPS 321.097 and SPS 362.1200, Wis. Adm. Code. (Note: These codes differentiate and have different requirements and compliance dates for structures/facilities that were reviewed and/or constructed prior to October 1, 2008, and those that are reviewed and constructed on or after October 1, 2008.)
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 101.149, Wis. Stats.
(2) 
Smoke detectors shall be provided by the owners of residential occupancies.
(a) 
Owners shall install at least one smoke detector in the following locations:
[1] 
In the basement;
[2] 
At the head of every open stairway;
[3] 
At the door to each floor level leading to every enclosed stairway; and
[4] 
Either in each sleeping area of each living unit or elsewhere in the unit within six feet from the doorway of each sleeping area and not within a kitchen.
(b) 
In addition, smoke detection installations shall be provided pursuant to § 101.645(3), Wis. Stats., and § SPS 321.09 and Chs. SPS 328 and SPS 362, Wis. Adm. Code, as applicable.
C. 
Connection to water and sewer system. Every kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory basin, and bath shall be in good working condition and properly connected to an approved water and sewer system.
D. 
Exits, doors and hallways. Every dwelling unit shall have exits which conform to the exit requirements of the Village of Bellevue Building Code, if any, and State Building Codes § SPS 321.03, Wis. Adm. Code, for one and two-family dwellings and Ch. SPS 362, Wis. Adm. Code, for three or more family dwellings and commercial buildings, as applicable. Every exit, door, and hallway shall also comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
It shall be kept in good repair.
(2) 
It shall be unobstructed at all times.
(3) 
Exterior doors shall be weather stripped to avoid air infiltration, have a threshold, have no holes, have all trim intact, and shall be lockable. Doors shall not be secured with hardware or other means that would prevent a person from exiting a building without the use of keys, tools, special knowledge or effort.
(4) 
All interior doors shall have no holes, have all trim intact, and be openable without the use of a key. This requirement does not preclude the use of a bathroom or bedroom privacy lock.
E. 
Hot and cold water supply to bath and sinks. Every bath, kitchen sink, and lavatory required under this chapter shall be properly connected with both hot and cold water lines.
F. 
Kitchen sink and lavatory. Every dwelling unit shall contain an approved kitchen sink. Every dwelling unit shall contain a lavatory or wash basin in or adjacent to the toilet room.
G. 
Plumbing. All plumbing, plumbing equipment, and plumbing fixtures and the installation thereof shall comply with the Plumbing Codes of the Village and State.
(1) 
Any tub, shower, toilet, sink, wash machine, or laundry sink that drains across a basement floor to a floor drain are prohibited.
(2) 
All sump pumps connected to the sanitary sewer shall be prohibited.
(3) 
The water pressure at all fixtures and appliances shall meet or exceed the minimum required pursuant to the manufacturer's specification, Village, if any, and State Plumbing Code.
(4) 
Pressure reducing valves shall be installed wherever water pressure exceeds 80 psi maximum pursuant to the manufacturer's specification, Village, if any, and State Plumbing Code.
H. 
Solid waste and recycling. Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be provided with adequate facilities for the storing of solid waste and recycling. Such facilities shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 391, Solid Waste and Recycling, of this Code. Every dwelling unit located on premises with two or more additional dwelling units shall have such facilities supplied.
I. 
Toilet. Every dwelling unit shall contain a toilet, which shall be placed in a separate room enclosed with partitions which extend to the ceiling which affords privacy to the user, typically a toilet room or bathroom.
J. 
Water heating facilities. Every dwelling shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed and maintained in reasonably good working condition, are properly connected with the hot water lines required under Subsection E 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 hot water outlet and appliance at a temperature of not less than 110° F. and not more than 125° F. Such supplied water heating facilities shall be capable of meeting these requirements when the dwelling or dwelling unit heating facilities are not in operation.
A. 
Window area.
(1) 
Every habitable room, toilet room, and bathroom shall have at least one window facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum window area shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the room. The top of at least one such window shall be not less than 6 1/2 feet above the floor. At least 1/2 of the window shall be made so as to open the full width unless other means of adequately ventilating such rooms are installed and operating. The outside window in every toilet or bathroom shall have a total area of at least 8% of the floor area but not less than four square feet, provided no window or sky light shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms or toilet rooms equipped with a properly sized and operational ventilation system.
(2) 
If window security bars or security screens are present on emergency exit windows, they must be equipped with a quick release system. The owner is responsible for ensuring that the family is instructed on the use of the quick release system.
B. 
Natural light. This subsection shall apply as applicable pursuant to the State Building Code in effect at the time the structure, addition, or portion thereof is/was constructed. All habitable rooms shall be provided with natural light by means of glazed openings. The area of the glazed openings shall be at least 8% of the net floor area, except under the following circumstances:
(1) 
Exception. Habitable rooms, other than bedrooms, located in basements or ground floors do not require natural light.
(2) 
Exception. Natural light may be obtained from adjoining areas through glazed openings, louvers or other approved methods. Door openings into adjoining areas may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
C. 
Safety glass. This subsection shall apply as applicable pursuant to the State Building Code in effect at the time the structure, addition, or portion thereof is/was constructed and at the time of replacement of any such glazing after the effective date of this chapter.
(1) 
Except as provided in Subsection C(2), glazing shall consist of safety glass meeting the requirements of ANSI Z 97.1 when installed in any of the following locations:
(a) 
In any side light adjacent to a door where the nearest point is within two feet of the door.
(b) 
In a wall that comprises part of a tub or shower enclosure where the glazing is within five feet vertically of the lowest drain inlet and within three feet horizontally of the nearest part of the inner rim of the tub.
(c) 
Within four feet vertically of a tread or landing in a stairway and within one foot horizontally of the near edge of the tread or landing.
(d) 
Within four feet vertically of the floor and three feet horizontally of the nosing of the top or bottom tread of a stair.
(2) 
Safety glass is not required where the size of an individual pane of glass is eight inches or less in the least dimension.
Note: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission requires safety glass for glazing in internal and external doors, including storm doors and patio doors, as well as for the tub or shower enclosures themselves. These federal rules, contained in 16 CFR, Subchapter B, Part 1201, apply in addition to any state rules or statutes.
D. 
Lighting of public halls and stairways. Every common hall and stairway in residential occupancies, other than in one- and two-family dwellings, shall be lighted at all times with at least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb for each 200 square feet of floor area or equivalent illumination, provided that the spacing between lights shall not be greater than 30 feet and the minimum illumination at all floors, landings and treads shall not be less than one footcandle.
E. 
Ventilation.
(1) 
Natural ventilation. Natural ventilation shall be provided to all habitable rooms by means of openable doors, skylights or windows. The net area of the openable doors, skylights or windows shall be at least 3.5% of the net floor area of the room. Balanced mechanical ventilation may be provided in lieu of openable exterior doors, skylights or windows provided the system is capable of providing at least one air change per hour of fresh outside air while the room is occupied. Infiltration may not be considered as makeup air for balancing purposes.
(2) 
Screens. All openable windows in each habitable room, toilet room, and bathroom where windows are required shall be supplied with a screen covering at least 1/3 of the window area, except where other means of adequately ventilating such rooms are available and operating. Screens shall have a wire mesh of not less than No. 16.
(3) 
Basement window screens. 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.
(4) 
Exhaust ventilation. All exhaust ventilation shall terminate outside the building.
F. 
Electric outlets.
(1) 
Every kitchen, living room, and rooming unit within a dwelling shall contain at least two separate and remote floor or wall type electric convenience outlets or one such convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling or wall type electric light fixture, and every bedroom, dining room, toilet room, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room, and public hall shall contain at least one supplied ceiling-type or wall-type electric fixture, provided that in lieu of one supplied ceiling-type or wall-type electric fixture a bedroom and dining room may each contain at least two separate and remote floor or wall-type electric convenience outlets. All interior and exterior stairways shall be supplied with a light fixture controlled by switching located at the top and bottom of the stairs. All basements shall have at least one working light fixture. At least one working luminary shall be so located near all mechanical equipment to allow for servicing of the equipment.
(2) 
All electrical junction boxes shall have an approved cover. All splices in electric wiring (except knob and tube) shall be made in an approved junction box.
(3) 
Every such outlet, fixture, and switch shall be properly installed, maintained in good working condition, and connected to the source of electric power in a proper manner and in accordance with the Village, if any, and State Electrical Code.
G. 
Heating facilities.
(1) 
Every dwelling unit shall have supplied heating facilities, and such facilities shall be properly installed, maintained in good working condition, and capable of adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms contained therein or intended for use by the occupants thereof to a temperature of at least 70° F., measured three feet above the floor level and three feet from an outer wall, when the outside temperature is at or above 15° F. Every central heating system shall comply with the Village Building and Heating Codes, if any, and the State Building and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Codes as applicable. It shall also comply with the following requirements:
(a) 
The central heating unit shall be in good operating condition.
(b) 
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.
(c) 
Every seal between the sections of a warm air furnace shall be tight, so noxious gases will not escape into heat ducts.
(2) 
Every space heater shall comply with the Village Building and Heating Codes, if any, and the State Building and Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Codes, when applicable, and 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 installed and vented.
(c) 
Every coal-burning or oil-burning space heater shall have a fire-resistant panel beneath it.
(d) 
The location of space heaters, the insulation of walls and ceilings close to such heaters, and the construction, installation, and guarding of smoke pipes and wall or ceilings through which they go shall be in accordance with the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Code of the Village, if any, and the State Building, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Codes.
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. 
Dwelling unit to be occupied by one family. No dwelling unit shall be occupied by more than one family.
B. 
Minimum floor area for dwelling unit. The Village of Bellevue zoning district in which the dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking, or eating meals lies shall determine the minimum square foot unit size requirement. Additionally, for the purpose of determining the minimum floor area requirement for each occupant living within, 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. To give example, if the minimum unit size requirement for a two-bedroom apartment is 850 square feet, the maximum family size permitted to dwell within would be limited to eight individuals based on minimum floor area per occupant. Nine occupants would require an additional 100 square feet of habitable living space.
C. 
Minimum floor area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied by one person for sleeping purposes shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space and 490 cubic feet of air space, and every room occupied by more than one person for sleeping purposes shall contain at least 60 square feet of floor space and 400 cubic feet of air space for each occupant thereof, provided these requirements shall be reduced by 1/2 for children under 12 years of age.
D. 
Arrangement of sleeping, bath, and toilet rooms. No dwelling or dwelling unit containing two or more sleeping rooms shall be so arranged that access to a bathroom or toilet room intended for use by the 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.
E. 
When basement and ground floor space may be habitable. No basement or ground floor space shall be used as a sleeping room or dwelling unit unless such sleeping room or dwelling unit is in conformity with existing Village and State Building Codes, as applicable, and complies with the following requirements:
(1) 
The total window area in each room shall be at least equal to the minimum window area required in § 258-15A or B, as applicable, of this chapter.
(2) 
Such required minimum window area shall be located entirely above the grade of the adjoining ground.
(3) 
The total openable window area in each bathroom and toilet room shall be at least equal to the minimum required under § 258-15E(1) or (2), as applicable, of this chapter, unless there is supplied some other approved ventilating device.
(4) 
Every habitable room in a basement or ground floor shall be at least seven feet high from the floor to the ceiling, and the ceiling shall be at least four feet above the outside grade level of the ground. The walls and floors shall be damp-proof and waterproof.
(a) 
Exception. Basement and ground floor bedrooms shall be permitted where the ceiling is less than four feet above the outside grade, provided they comply with all regulations contained herein and also with the Village, if any, and State Building Code(s) § SPS 321.03 for one and two-family dwellings and Ch. SPS 362, Wis. Adm. Code, for three or more family dwellings at the time of construction and occupancy. The foregoing include specific requirements for minimum floor space, ceiling height, windows and natural light, heating and ventilation, electric and lighting, doors, and means of egress.
(5) 
Basements and ground floors shall not contain or be utilized for habitable rooms or spaces except in compliance with this chapter, Village of Bellevue Building Codes, if any, and State Building Codes § SPS 321.03 for one and two-family dwellings and Ch. SPS 362, Wis. Adm. Code, for three or more family dwellings and commercial buildings, as applicable. (Note: Among other important items, these sections include required exiting specifications.)
(6) 
Habitable spaces, rooms, or areas constructed in a basement or ground floor without a local building permit or in violation of Village, if any, and State Building Code(s) are illegal and shall not be permissible as habitable spaces, rooms, or areas.
F. 
Occupants to have access to sanitary facilities. Every occupant of every dwelling shall have unrestricted access to a toilet and bath and to a kitchen sink or lavatory located within that dwelling.
G. 
Ceiling height with respect to floor area. 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 in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof.