No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for
occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purposes of living
therein which does not comply with the following requirements:
A.
For every dwelling unit there shall be at least 150 square feet of
floor area for the first occupant and at least 90 additional square
feet of floor area for each additional occupant over the age of one
year. The floor area shall be calculated on the basis of the total
floor area of the dwelling unit exclusive of stairways. For the purpose
of such calculation, only the floor area in a basement meeting the
requirements for basement occupancy shall be counted. It is the owner's
responsibility at the time of inspection to designate room uses.
B.
No room used for sleeping purposes shall have a floor area of less
than 70 square feet. No room shall be used for sleeping purposes by
two or more persons unless there is at least 50 square feet for each
person.
C.
Habitable rooms, hallways, corridors, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry
rooms, and basements shall have a ceiling height of not less than
seven feet (2,134 mm). The required height shall be measured from
the finish floor to the lowest projection of ceiling.
(1)
Exceptions:
(a)
Beams and girders spaced not less than four feet (1,219 mm)
on center may project not more than six inches (152 mm) below the
required ceiling height.
(b)
Ceilings in basements without habitable spaces may project to
within six feet eight inches (2,032 mm) of the finished floor, and
beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions may project to within
six feet four inches (1,931 mm) of the finished floor.
(c)
Not more than 50% of the required floor area of a room or space
is permitted to have a sloped ceiling less than seven feet (2,134
mm) in height with no portion of the required floor area less than
five feet (1,524 mm) in height.
(d)
Bathrooms shall have a minimum ceiling height of six feet eight
inches (2,036 mm) over the fixture and at the front clearance area
for fixtures. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have
a minimum ceiling height of six feet eight inches (2,036 mm) above
a minimum area 30 inches (762 mm) by 30 inches (762 mm) at the showerhead.[1]
(2)
This
section is subject to updates of the International Residential Code
as adopted by Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS).
D.
Every owner, agent, licensee or operator shall advise the tenant
in writing of the maximum number of occupants permitted in the dwelling
unit leased or rented.
There shall be, for each dwelling unit and for each boarding
unit, a separate access either to a hallway, landing, stairway or
street.
A.
No room in any basement shall be occupied as a habitable room, bathroom,
or toilet room unless:
(1)
There
are no pipes, ducts or other obstructions less than six feet above
the floor level or less than five feet eight inches above floor level
in a bathroom or toilet room existing on the effective date of this
chapter, and ceiling heights are in accordance with this code, except
that a bathroom existing on the effective date of this chapter with
at least 1/2 of the floor area having a ceiling height of not less
than five feet eight inches shall be permitted to continue;
(2)
Light
and ventilation for habitable rooms are provided in accordance with
this code and 70% of the regular window area is above the ground level,
except when window areaways or window wells are provided so that the
minimum width of the areaway or well is not less than twice the distance
from the bottom of the window to the finished grade; and
(3)
The
floor and walls, if in contact with the earth, are waterproof and
damp-proof in accordance with a method approved by the Director. Such
waterproofing and damp-proofing shall be between the floor or wall
finish and the ground.
B.
Windows are required as a means of egress, unless a sprinkler system
is present and operational at all times.
Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a means of circulation
giving access to all rooms without passing through a bathroom.
