[Ord. No. 1341, 7-17-2002]
(a) 
Scope. All properties covered by this article shall meet minimum standards for the light, ventilation and space for the occupancy of a structure.
(b) 
Evidence. Evidence of a violation of minimum standards for the light, ventilation and space requirements of structures shall be a violation of one or more of the sections of this division.
[Ord. No. 1341, 7-17-2002]
(a) 
Habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have at least one window of approved size facing directly to the outdoors or to a court. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be 8% of the floor area of such room, except when artificial light may be provided in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Code. Whenever 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 a 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. For the purposes of determining minimum lighting requirements, skylight areas shall be considered equivalent to window areas.
[Ord. No. 1341, 7-17-2002]
(a) 
Habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have at least one window, which can be easily opened, or such other device as may be permitted under the Construction Code, as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every room shall be equal to at least 4% of the floor area.
(b) 
Bathrooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the ventilation requirements for habitable spaces as required by this article; except, that a window shall not be required in bathrooms or water closet compartments equipped with an approved mechanical ventilation system. Air exhausted by a mechanical ventilation system from a bathroom or water closet compartment must be exhausted to the exterior and may not be recirculated to any space, including the space from which it is withdrawn.
(c) 
Cooking appliances. Cooking shall not be permitted in any sleeping room or dormitory unit, and a cooking appliance shall not be permitted to be present in a sleeping room or dormitory unit.
(d) 
Mechanical ventilation. Where mechanical ventilation is provided in lieu of the natural ventilation, such mechanical ventilation system shall be maintained in operation during the occupancy of any structure or portion thereof. When part of the air provided by a mechanical ventilation system is recirculated, the portion or volume of air recirculated shall not be recirculated to a different residential space or occupancy of dissimilar use from which it is withdrawn.
(e) 
Clothes dryer exhaust. Clothes dryer venting systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall be vented in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. All clothes dryer vent ducts must be constructed of a metallic duct material.
[Ord. No. 1341, 7-17-2002; amended 10-1-2014 by Ord. No. 1641]
(a) 
Separation of units. Dwelling units shall be separate and apart from each other and other adjoining spaces. Sleeping rooms shall not be used as the only means of access to other sleeping rooms or habitable spaces.
(b) 
Common access. A habitable space, bathroom or water closet compartment, which is accessory to a dwelling unit, shall not open directly into or be used in conjunction with a room used for public purposes.
(c) 
Below grade rooms. Rooms partially or completely below grade shall not be used as sleeping space, unless the following requirements are met:
(1) 
Floors and walls are watertight, so as to prevent entry of moisture;
(2) 
Light and ventilation requirements are met in accordance with Sections 14-4.12 and 14-4.13 of this Code;
(3) 
A window or exterior door has a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, the sill is no more than 44 inches above the floor and does not require tools or keys to open;
(4) 
The window or exterior door is above grade or an approved window well is provided.
(d) 
Occupancy.
(1) 
A dwelling unit shall not be occupied by more than one family.
(2) 
For any dwelling unit that was legally occupied by five or six unrelated adults as a single housekeeping group as of September 1, 2014, the dwelling unit may continue to be occupied by five or six unrelated adults as a single housekeeping group, but only if the owner demonstrates in writing to the Department of Community and Neighborhood Services on or before December 31, 2014, that the unit was so occupied.
(3) 
Subsection (d)(2) shall not apply to a dwelling unit if the annual basic housing permit for that dwelling unit is revoked or expires at any time after September 1, 2014, and is not renewed for at least six consecutive months. If an annual basic housing permit is thereafter reinstated, renewed or a new annual basic housing permit is thereafter issued, occupancy shall be limited as provided in Subsection (d)(1).
[Ord. No. 1341, 7-17-2002; amended by Ord. No. 1544, 4-14-2010; 5-3-2017 by Ord. No. 1691]
(a) 
Prohibited use for sleeping purposes. It shall be prohibited to use for sleeping purposes any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space.
(b) 
Minimum area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant.
(c) 
Overcrowding. The maximum number of persons occupying a dwelling or a dwelling unit shall be calculated using the following table:
Minimum Occupancy Area
(in square feet)
Space
1 to 2 Occupants
3 to 5 Occupants
6 or More Occupants
Living room
None required
120
150
Dining room
None required
80
100
Kitchen
50
50
60
Bedrooms
50 per occupant, with minimum of 70 for one occupant
(d) 
Combined spaces. Combined living room/dining room/kitchen spaces will be construed as meeting the requirements of the above table if the total area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if the space is so located that it may practically function as a combination of the two or three rooms.
(e) 
Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable spaces created in existing basements shall be permitted to have ceiling heights of not less than six feet eight inches (2,030 cm). Obstructions may project to within six feet four inches (1,930 cm) of the basement floor. Existing finished ceiling heights in nonhabitable spaces in basements shall not be reduced. Other habitable (spaces) rooms, hallways, corridors shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet (2,134 cm) measured to the lowest projection from the ceiling, except that in attics or top half stories the ceiling height shall be not less than seven feet over not less than 1/3 of the minimum area required by this Code when used for sleeping, studying, or similar activity. In calculating the floor area of attics or top half stories, only those portions of the floor area of the room having a clear ceiling height of five feet or more may be included.
(f) 
Minimum room widths. Every habitable space shall have a clear room width of not less than seven feet; provided that kitchens shall require a clear passageway of not less than three feet between counters, appliances and/or walls.