[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
Scope. The provisions of this Part 4 shall govern the minimum conditions
and standards for the light, ventilation and space for the occupancy
of a structure. All light, ventilation and space conditions shall
comply with the requirements herein prescribed insofar as they are
applicable.
2.
Responsibility. The owner of the structure shall provide and maintain
such light and ventilation and space conditions in compliance with
these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or
let to another for occupancy or use any premises which does not comply
with the following requirements of this Part 4.
3.
Access to Public Property. All structures shall be provided access
to public property. Such access means shall be maintained unobstructed.
4.
Open Space. An open space when used for the origin of light and ventilation
shall be maintained and unobstructed.
5.
Alternative devices. In place of the means for natural light and
ventilation herein prescribed, alternative arrangements of windows,
louvers, or other methods and devices that will provide the equivalent
minimum performance requirements shall be permitted when complying
with the Building Code.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
General. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient light so
as not to endanger health and safety.
2.
Habitable Spaces. Every habitable space 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 very habitable
space shall be 8% of the floor area of such room, except in kitchens
when artificial light may be provided in accordance with the provisions
of the Building Code. Whenever walls or other portions of a structure
face a window of any room and such obstructions are located less than
three feet (914 mm) 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.
3.
Common Halls and Stairways. Every common hall and stairway in every
building, other than one- and two-family dwellings, shall be adequately
lighted at all times with an illumination of at least a sixty-watt
standard incandescent light bulb or equivalent for each 200 square
feet (18.60 m2) of floor area, provided
that the spacing between lights shall not be greater than 30 feet
(9,144 mm). Every exterior stairway shall be illuminated with a minimum
of one footcandle (10.76 lux) at floors, landings and treads.
4.
Other Spaces. All other spaces shall be provided with natural or
artificial light of sufficient intensity and so distributed as to
permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions, and the safe use of
the space and the appliances, equipment and fixtures.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
General. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient natural
or mechanical ventilation so as not to endanger health and safety.
Where mechanical ventilation is provided in lieu of the natural ventilation,
such mechanical ventilating 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.
2.
Habitable Spaces. Every habitable space shall have at least one window which can be easily opened or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size required in § 5-402, Subsection 2.
3.
Toilet Rooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable spaces as required by § 5-402, Subsection 2, 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.
4.
Cooking Facilities. Cooking shall not be permitted in any sleeping
room or dormitory unit, and a cooking facility or appliance shall
not be permitted to be present in a sleeping room or dormitory unit.
5.
Process Ventilation. Where any process permits and where injurious,
toxic, irritating or noxious fumes, gases, dusts, or mists are generated
by said process, a local exhaust ventilation system shall be provided
to remove the contaminating agent at the source so that it is not
allowed to permeate the general atmosphere of the workroom. Air so
exhausted shall be exhausted to the exterior and may not be recirculated
to any space, including the space from which it is withdrawn.
6.
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.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
Separation of Units. Dwelling units shall be separated and apart
from each other. Sleeping rooms shall not be used as the only means
of access to other sleeping rooms or habitable spaces.
A.
Privacy. Hotel units, lodging units, and dormitory units shall be
designed to provide privacy, and be separate from other adjoining
spaces.
2.
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 food store, barbershop or beauty
shop, doctor's or dentist's examination or treatment room, or similar
room used for public purposes.
3.
Below-Grade Rooms. Rooms partially or completely below grade shall
not be used as a habitable space unless:
A.
Floors and walls are watertight so as to prevent entry of moisture;
B.
Total window area, total openable window area and ceiling height
are in accordance with this code;
C.
Required minimum window area of every habitable space is entirely
above the grade adjoining such window area; and
D.
Means of egress and emergency escape are provided in accordance with
this code.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
Area for Sleeping Purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes
by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet (6.51 m2) of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping
purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square
feet (4.65 m2) of floor area for each occupant
thereof.
2.
Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants
than permitted by the minimum occupancy area requirements of Table
5-405(2).
|
Table 5-405(2)
Minimum Occupancy Area Requirements
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Occupancy Area in Square Feet
(square meters)
| ||||
|
Space
|
1 to 2 Occupants
|
3 to 5 Occupants
|
6 or More
| |
|
Living rooma
|
No requirements
|
120 (11.16)
|
150 (13.95)
| |
|
Dining rooma
|
No requirements
|
80 (7.44)
|
100 (9.30)
| |
|
Kitchen
|
50 (4.65)
|
50 (4.65)
|
60 (5.58)
| |
|
Bedroomsb
| ||||
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Note a:
|
Combined room/dining room spaces will be construed as meeting
the requirements of this table if the total area is equal to that
required for separate rooms and if the space is so located that it
may function as a combination living room/dining room.
| |
|
Note b:
|
Every room used as a bedroom shall have access to at least one
water closet without passing through another room used as a bedroom.
Every room used as a bedroom shall have access to at least one water
closet located on the same floor as the bedroom, except that this
requirement shall not apply to the only bedroom on a floor.
| |
3.
Prohibited Use. It shall be prohibited to use for sleeping purposes
any kitchen, nonhabitable space, or public space.
4.
Minimum Ceiling Height. Habitable spaces shall have a clear ceiling
height over the minimum area required by this code at not less than
7 1/3 feet (2,235 mm), except that in attics or top half-stories
the ceiling height shall be not less than seven feet (2,134 mm) over
not less than 1/3 of the minimum area required by this code when used
for sleeping, study or similar activity. In calculating the floor
area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area of the room
having a clear ceiling height of five feet (1,524 mm) or more may
be included.
5.
Correctional Institutional Occupancies. It is not intended that this
code regulate the space requirements of correctional institutions.
6.
Minimum Room Widths.
A.
Every habitable space shall have a clear room width of not less than
seven feet (2,134 mm) at the narrowest point exclusive of projections
affecting less than 10% of the floor area and exclusive of floor areas
of alcoves and entryways not included in meeting the floor area requirements
listed in Table 5-405(2).
B.
Exception. Kitchens require a clear passageway of not less than three
feet (914 mm) between counters, appliances and/or walls.
