A. 
Scope. The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for light, ventilation and space for occupying a structure.
B. 
Responsibility. The owner of the structure shall provide and maintain light, ventilation and space conditions in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant, or permit another person to occupy, any premises that do not comply with the requirements of this article.
C. 
Alternative devices. In lieu of the means for natural light and ventilation herein prescribed, artificial light or mechanical ventilation complying with the International Building Code shall be permitted.
A. 
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 glazed area for every habitable space shall be 8% of the floor area of such room. Wherever 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 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.
Exception: Where natural light for rooms or spaces without exterior glazing areas is provided through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining room shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the interior room or space, but not less than 25 square feet (2.33 m2). The exterior glazing area shall be based on the total floor area being served.
B. 
Means of egress lighting. Lighting shall be provided for means of egress as follows:
(1) 
One- and two-family dwellings. All interior and exterior stairways located in any one- and two- family dwellings rented, leased, let or offered for sale, shall be provided with lighting as follows:
(a) 
Interior stairways with six or more risers shall provide a 60-watt standard incandescent light bulb, or equivalent illumination, located in the immediate vicinity of each landing of the stairway.
(b) 
Exterior stairways shall provide a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb, or equivalent illumination, located in the immediate vicinity of the top landing of the stairway.
(c) 
The control for activation of the required interior stairway lighting shall be accessible at the top and bottom of each stairway without traversing any steps. The illumination of exterior stairways shall be controlled from inside the dwelling unit.
Exception: Lights that are continuously illuminated or automatically controlled.
(2) 
Residential occupancies. All common hall and stairways located in residential occupancies, other than one- and two-family dwellings, shall be provided with lighting as follows:
(a) 
Common halls shall be lighted at all times with at least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb, or equivalent illumination, for each 200 square feet (19 m2) of floor area and shall be sufficient to illuminate change of hallway direction, provided that the spacing between lights shall not be greater than 30 feet (9,144 mm).
(b) 
Interior stairways shall be lighted at all times with at least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb, or equivalent illumination, for each 200 square feet (19 m2) of floor area and shall be sufficient to illuminate treads and landings. At least one such lighting outlet shall be provided for each floor level.
(c) 
Exterior stairways shall be lighted at all times with at least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb, or equivalent illumination, located in the immediate vicinity of the top landing of the stairway.
(d) 
Exit discharge areas shall be lighted at all times with at least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb or equivalent illumination located in the immediate vicinity of the doorway.
(3) 
Nonresidential occupancies. Means of egress lighting shall be provided as follows:
(a) 
All means of egress, including the exit discharge, shall be illuminated at all times the building space served by the means of egress is occupied with a minimum of one footcandle (11 lux) at floors, landings and treads and shall be sufficient to illuminate change of hallway direction.
(b) 
Exit discharge areas shall be provided with at least one wall-switch-controlled lighting outlet installed to provide illumination on the exterior side of each outdoor egress door having grade level access.
(c) 
At least one wall-switch-controlled lighting outlet shall be installed to provide illumination on the exterior side of each outdoor egress door leading to egress stairs with such lighting outlet to be located in the immediate vicinity of the top landing of the stairway.
(4) 
The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises' electrical supply.
(5) 
In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system or power supply consisting of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator shall be provided. Such system shall automatically illuminate the areas covered.
C. 
Other spaces. All other spaces shall be provided with natural or artificial light sufficient to permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions, and the safe occupancy of the space and utilization of the appliances, equipment and fixtures.
D. 
Storage or equipment spaces. All attics, under-floor spaces, utility rooms and basements shall be equipped with at least one lighting outlet where these spaces are used for storage or contain equipment requiring servicing. Such lighting outlet shall be controlled by a wall switch or shall have an integral switch. At least one point of control shall be at the usual point of entry to these spaces. The lighting outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment requiring servicing.
E. 
Clothes, linen or storage closet lighting. All fixtures installed in closets shall be limited to surface-mounted or recessed incandescent fixtures with completely enclosed lamps, and surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent fixtures. Incandescent fixtures with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant fixtures or lamp holders shall be prohibited. Fixture installations shall be in accordance with the building code.
Exception: Non-rental, owner occupied single-family dwellings that are not offered for sale.
F. 
Exterior property areas. In the absence of any existing public lighting, the exterior areas of all structures adjacent to any public highway or common alleys, except one- and two-family dwellings, shall be provided with at least one exterior sixty-watt flood or spot light positioned to provide sufficient security lighting to the property, highway or common alley area. Such lighting shall be provided for every 40 feet of building and shall not cast directly upon any adjacent residential properties in a manner that causes a nuisance to the occupants.
A. 
Habitable spaces. Every habitable space shall have at least one openable window. The total openable area of the window in every room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum glazed area required in § 220-27A.
Exception: Where rooms and spaces without openings to the outdoors are ventilated through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining room shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the interior room or space, but not less than 25 square feet (2.33 m2). The ventilation openings to the outdoors shall be based on a total floor area being ventilated.
B. 
Bathrooms and toilet rooms. Every bathroom and toilet room shall comply with the ventilation requirements for habitable spaces as required by Subsection A, except that a window shall not be required in such spaces equipped with a mechanical ventilation system. Air exhausted by a mechanical ventilation system from a bathroom or toilet room shall discharge to the outdoors and shall not be recirculated:
C. 
Cooking facilities. Unless approved through the certificate of occupancy, cooking shall not be permitted in any rooming unit or dormitory unit, and a cooking facility or appliance shall not be permitted to be present in a rooming unit or dormitory unit.
Exception: Where specifically approved in writing by the Code Officer.
D. 
Process ventilation. Where injurious, toxic, irritating or noxious fumes, gases, dusts or mists are generated, a local exhaust ventilation system shall be provided to remove the contaminating agent at the source. Air shall be exhausted to the exterior and not be recirculated to any space.
E. 
Clothes dryer exhaust. In all but owner occupied one- and two-family dwellings, dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all other systems, shall convey the moisture to the outdoors and shall terminate on the outside of the building. Exhaust duct terminations shall be in accordance with the dryer manufacturer's installation instructions. Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination. Exhaust ducts shall not be connected with sheet-metal screws or fastening means which extend into the duct. Exhaust ducts shall not exceed 25 feet (7,620 mm) from the dryer location to the wall or roof termination. The maximum length of the duct shall be reduced 2.5 feet (762 mm) for each 45° (0.79 rad) bend and five feet (1,524 mm) for each 90° (1.6 rad) bend. Exhaust ducts shall be constructed of minimum 0.016-inch-thick (0.406 mm) rigid metal, having smooth interior surfaces with joints running in the direction of airflow.
(1) 
Flexible transition ducts used to connect the dryer to the exhaust duct system shall be limited to single lengths, not to exceed eight feet (2,438 mm) in length and shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 2158A. Transition ducts shall not be concealed within construction.
(2) 
Dryer and duct maintenance. Dryers and their ducts shall be properly maintained and properly cleaned of all lint and other debris that could cause a fire.
A. 
Privacy. Dwelling units, hotel units, housekeeping units, rooming units and dormitory units shall be arranged to provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces.
B. 
Minimum room widths. A habitable room, other than a kitchen, shall not be less than seven feet (2,134 mm) in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than three feet (914 mm) between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.
C. 
Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable spaces, hallways, corridors, laundry areas, bathrooms, toilet rooms and habitable basement areas shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than seven feet (2,134 mm).
(1) 
Exceptions:
(a) 
In one- and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced not less than four feet (1,219 mm) on center and projecting not more than six inches (152 mm) below the required ceiling height.
(b) 
Basement rooms in one- and two-family dwellings occupied exclusively for laundry, study or recreation purposes, having a ceiling height of not less than six feet eight inches (2,033 mm) with not less than six feet four inches (1,932 mm) of clear height under beams, girders, ducts and similar obstructions.
(c) 
Rooms occupied exclusively for sleeping, study or similar purposes and having a sloped ceiling over all or part of the room, with a clear ceiling height of at least seven feet (2,134 mm) over not less than 1/3 of the required minimum floor area. In calculating the floor area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area with a clear ceiling height of five feet (1,524 mm) or more shall be included.
D. 
Bedroom requirements. Every bedroom shall comply with the requirements of Subsection D(1) through (5).
(1) 
Area for sleeping purposes. Every bedroom occupied by one person shall contain at least 70 square feet (6.5 m2) of floor area, and every bedroom occupied by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet (4.6 m2) of floor area for each occupant thereof.
(2) 
Access from bedrooms. Bedrooms shall not constitute the only means of access to other bedrooms or habitable spaces and shall not serve as the only means of egress from other habitable spaces.
Exception: Units that contain fewer than two bedrooms.
(3) 
Water closet accessibility. Every bedroom shall have access to at least one water closet and one lavatory without passing through another bedroom. Every bedroom in a dwelling unit shall have access to at least one water closet and lavatory located in the same story as the bedroom or an adjacent story.
(4) 
Prohibited sleeping areas. The following areas shall not be used for sleeping purposes if they are located in:
(a) 
Kitchens.
(b) 
Nonhabitable spaces.
(c) 
Basements or areas below ground when such areas:
[1] 
Are not properly separated from heater or boiler areas with a minimum one-hour fire separation.
[2] 
Where fuel-burning heaters or boilers draw combustion make up air from such sleeping areas.
[3] 
Are not provided with emergency egress openings as required in the building code.
[4] 
Are not equipped with hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
(5) 
Other requirements. Bedrooms shall comply with the applicable provisions of this code including, but not limited to, the light, ventilation, room area, ceiling height and room width requirements of this article; the plumbing facilities and water-heating facilities requirements of Article V; the heating facilities and electrical receptacle requirements of Article VI; and the smoke detector and emergency escape requirements of Article VII.
E. 
Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted by the minimum area requirements of Table 220-29E.
Table 220-29E
Minimum Area Requirements
Space
Minimum Area in Square Feet
1 to 2 occupants
3 to 5 occupants
6 or more occupants
Living rooma, b
No requirements
120
150
Dining rooma, b
No requirements
80
100
Kitchen
50
50
60
Bedrooms
Shall comply with § 220-29D
NOTES:
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.093 m2
a
See § 220-29E(2) for combined living room/dining room spaces.
b
See § 220-29E(1) for limitations on determining the minimum occupancy area for sleeping purposes.
(1) 
Sleeping area. The minimum occupancy area required by Table 220-29E shall not be included as a sleeping area in determining the minimum occupancy area for sleeping purposes. All sleeping areas shall comply with Subsection D.
(2) 
Combined spaces. Combined living room and dining room spaces shall comply with the requirements of Table 220-29E if the total area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if the space is located so as to function as a combination living room/dining room.
F. 
Efficiency unit. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an efficiency living unit from meeting the following requirements:
(1) 
A unit occupied by not more than two occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than 220 square feet (20.4 m2). A unit occupied by three occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than 320 square feet (29.7 m2). These required areas shall be exclusive of the areas required by Subsection F(2) and (3).
(2) 
The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this code shall be provided.
(3) 
The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower.
(4) 
The maximum number of occupants shall be three.
G. 
Food preparation. All spaces to be occupied for food preparation purposes shall contain suitable space and equipment to store, prepare and serve foods in a sanitary manner. There shall be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food wastes and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage. Food shall include all perishable and nonperishable items.