[R.O. 2007 §16-17; Ord. No. 3761 §6, 4-6-1970]
No person shall occupy, as owner or occupant, or shall let or
hold out to another for occupancy any dwelling or family unit for
the purpose of living therein, which is not safe, clean, sanitary
and fit for human occupancy and which does not comply with the provisions
of this Article.
[R.O. 2007 §16-18; Ord. No. 3761 §6(a), 4-6-1970]
The foundation, exterior walls and exterior roof shall be substantially
water-tight and protected against rodents and shall be kept in sound
condition and repair. The foundation elements shall adequately support
the building at all points. Every exterior wall shall be free of deterioration
holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers and any other condition
which might admit rain or dampness to the interior portions of the
walls or to the exterior spaces of the dwelling. The roof shall be
tight and have no defects which admit rain and roof drainage shall
be adequate to prevent rainwater from causing dampness in the walls.
All cornices, rustications, quoins, moldings, belt courses, lintels,
sills, oriel windows, pediments and similar projections shall be kept
in good repair and free from cracks and defects which make them hazardous
and dangerous.
[R.O. 2007 §16-19; Ord. No. 3761 §6(b), 4-6-1970]
Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be adequately protected
against the passage and harborage of vermin and rodents and shall
be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every floor shall be free
of holes and cracks. Every floor shall be free of loose, warped, protruding
or rotting floor boards. Every interior wall and ceiling shall be
free of holes and large cracks and shall be maintained in a tight
weather-proof condition. Every interior wall and ceiling shall be
free of loose plaster or other structural material. Plaster, paint
and all other surface materials shall be of such character as to be
easily cleanable and shall be reasonably smooth, clean and tight.
Every toilet room and bathroom floor surface shall be substantially
impervious to water and be capable of being maintained easily in a
clean and sanitary condition.
[R.O. 2007 §16-20; Ord. No. 3761 §6(c), 4-6-1970]
Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be substantially
tight and shall be kept in sound condition and repair. Every window
shall be fully supplied with window panes which are without cracks
or holes. Every window sash shall be in good condition and fit reasonably
tight within its frame. Every window, other than a fixed window, shall
be capable of being easily opened and shall be held in position by
window hardware. Every exterior door, door hinge and door latch shall
be in good condition. Every exterior door, when closed, shall fit
reasonably well within its frame. Every window, door and frame shall
be constructed and maintained in such relation to the adjacent wall
construction as completely to exclude rain and substantially to exclude
wind from entering the dwelling. Every basement hatchway shall be
so constructed and maintained as to prevent the entrance of rodents,
rain and surface drainage water in the building.
[R.O. 2007 §16-21; Ord. No. 3761 §6(d), 4-6-1970]
A.
Screens
shall be supplied to the following extent:
1.
Every basement or cellar window which is openable shall be supplied
with a framed heavy wire screen or hardware cloth of not less than
four (4) mesh per inch which fits tightly and is securely fastened
to the frame or with any other material affording equivalent protection
against the entry of rodents.
2.
From April fifteenth (15th) to November fifteenth (15th) of each
year, every door opening directly from any family unit to the outdoors
and every window or other outside opening used for ventilation purposes
shall be supplied with a screen of not less than sixteen (16) mesh
per inch and every screen door shall have a self-closing device in
good working condition. However, no such screen shall be required
for a family unit on a floor above the fourth (4th) floor, unless
required by the Department of Buildings when unusual circumstances
of insect prevalence exist.
[R.O. 2007 §16-22; Ord. No. 3761 §6(e), 4-6-1970]
Every stairway, inside or outside of the dwelling, and every
porch shall be kept in safe condition and sound repair. Every flight
of stairs and every porch floor shall be free of deterioration. Every
stairwell and every porch floor shall be free of deterioration. Every
stairwell and every flight of stairs which is more than four (4) risers
high shall have rails not less than two and one-half (2½) feet
high, measured vertically from the nose of the thread to the top of
the rail; and every porch which is more than four (4) risers high
shall have rails not less than two and one-half (2½) feet above
the floor of the porch. Every rail and balustrade shall be firmly
fastened and maintained in good condition. No flight of stairs shall
have settled more than one (1) inch out of its intended position or
have pulled away from supporting or adjacent structures. No flight
of stairs shall have rotting, loose or deteriorating supports. The
treads and risers of every flight of stairs shall be uniform in width
and height. Every stair tread shall be strong enough to bear a concentrated
load of at least four hundred (400) pounds without danger of breaking.
Every porch shall have a sound floor. No porch shall have rotting,
loose or deteriorating supports.
[R.O. 2007 §16-23; Ord. No. 3761 §6(f), 4-6-1970]
Every basement and every cellar shall be maintained in a safe
and sanitary condition. Water shall not be permitted to accumulate
or stand on the floor. All sewer connections shall be properly trapped.
All cellar and slab drains shall be covered with grating. Junk, rubbish
and waste shall not be permitted to accumulate to such an extent as
to create fire hazards or to endanger health or safety.
[R.O. 2007 §16-24; Ord. No. 3761 §6(g), 4-6-1970]
Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility and every
chimney and chimney flue shall be installed, function effectively
as originally designed and shall be maintained in a safe, sound and
sanitary working condition.
[R.O. 2007 §16-25; Ord. No. 3761 §6(h), 4-6-1970]
Every yard, court, vent passageway, driveway and other portion
of the lot on which the dwelling stands shall be graded and drained
so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on any such surface.
Driveways shall be maintained in good repair and free of safety hazards.
[R.O. 2007 §16-26; Ord. No. 3761 §6(i), 4-6-1970]
Yards shall be provided with adequate lawn, ground cover of
vegetation, hedges or bushes equal to at least ten percent (10%) of
the total lot area. All areas which are not covered by vegetation
shall be treated to prevent dust or the blowing or scattering of dust
particles into the air. All trees, bushes or vegetation which overhang
a public entrance shall be properly trimmed to avoid obstruction of
the view and movements of vehicles and pedestrians.
[R.O. 2007 §16-27; Ord. No. 3761 §6(j), 4-6-1970]
Each dwelling and all exterior appurtenances on the premises
shall be adequately protected against rats, mice, termites and other
vermin infestation. Building defects which permit the entrance of
rats, mice, termites and other vermin shall be corrected immediately
by the owner. Tenants shall be responsible for the elimination of
rodents and vermin from that part of the premises under their exclusive
control except when more than one (1) unit is infested at the same
time and in this instance, the owner shall be responsible for elimination
of the infestation.
[R.O. 2007 §16-28; Ord. No. 3761 §10, 4-6-1970]
A.
All
habitable rooms, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, shall
be provided with a means of transmitting natural light from outside
complying with the following requirements.
1.
The required clear glass area shall not be less than one-tenth (0.1)
of the floor area of such room and not less than ten (10) square feet.
The effective area shall be computed at not more than eighty percent
(80%) of the actual area when a required natural light area:
a.
Faces a wall or other obstruction at a distance of less than ten
(10) feet; or
b.
Is located below a roof or other obstruction projecting more than
four (4) feet from the face of the window or other natural light area
and the plane from the head to the outside of such projection forms
an angle with the horizontal of less than forty-five degrees (45°).
2.
Whenever a habitable room has natural light area opening from the
room to an enclosed porch, such area shall not be counted as a required
light area unless the enclosed porch has a natural light area of not
less than three (3) times the required light area opening from the
room to the porch.
[R.O. 2007 §16-29; Ord. No. 3761 §12, 4-6-1970]
All habitable structures of three (3) or more stories with dwelling
units occupying the third (3rd) or higher story shall be provided
with two (2) separate usable unobstructed means of egress for each
dwelling unit located above the second (2nd) story. The exit facilities
from such dwelling units shall lead to a public thoroughfare, either
directly or through a court or yard and passage to such exits shall
not lead through any other dwelling unit or through a space that might
reasonably be locked by anyone who is not a member of the household.
Dual egress will not be required of structures that are of full fireproof
construction as defined in the Building Code.
[R.O. 2007 §16-30; Ord. No. 3761 §13, 4-6-1970]
Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in good repair,
free of chips, cracks or other defect which may be a sanitary hazard
and shall be in working condition, properly connected to a water and
sewerage system approved by the Building Inspector.
[R.O. 2007 §16-31; Ord. No. 3761 §13, 4-6-1970]
Every kitchen sink, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required
under the provisions of this Chapter shall be properly connected with
both hot and cold water lines.
[R.O. 2007 §16-32; Ord. No. 3761 §14, 4-6-1970]
A.
Every,dwelling
unit shall contain a bathroom which affords privacy to a person within
said room and which is equipped with a flush water closet, a tub or
shower and lavatory basin. Every dwelling unit with more than seven
(7) occupants shall contain additional sanitary facilities at the
rate of one (1) water closet and one (1) lavatory for each additional
four (4) occupants or fraction thereof.
B.
All
fixtures shall be in good repair and in working condition, properly
connected to the public water system and to a public or private sewerage
system; provided however, that until such sewer connections are available,
septic tanks constructed according to the standards required by the
Health Department and properly functioning shall not be construed
as in violation of this Section.
[R.O. 2007 §16-33; Ord. No. 3761 §11.1, 4-6-1970]
Every dwelling unit shall have adequate refuse, garbage or rubbish
storage facilities as required by this Code or City ordinances.
