(a)
Each owner/operator of a boarding home facility must ensure
the resident's health, safety, comfort and protection through the
following standards that address the construction or remodeling of
a boarding home facility, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation
and other housing conditions.
(b)
Each facility must meet the following applicable codes and regulations:
(2)
The city's fire prevention and protection code as contained in chapter 6 of this code and any other applicable federal, state or local codes and standards.
(3)
The city's health and sanitation code as contained in chapter 7 and any other applicable federal, state or local codes and standards.
(4)
Federal and state accessibility regulations.
(c)
Mobile homes shall not be permitted for use as boarding homes
or additions to existing boarding homes.
(d)
Interior doors to living spaces, bedrooms, bathrooms and toilet
rooms must fit the openings in which they are hung, be properly equipped
with hardware and be maintained in good working condition. Doors with
locking devices must be provided where necessary to provide privacy
and protection of the resident.
(e)
Public pathways and stairways in buildings must maintain a minimum
unobstructed width concurrent with federal fire codes and must be
provided with convenient light switches controlling an adequate lighting
system.
(f)
Boarding home facilities must be supplied with electric service
and fixtures that are properly installed and maintained in safe working
condition and connected to a source of electrical power.
(g)
Every boarding home facility must have heating and cooling equipment
that are properly installed, vented, and maintained in a safe good
working condition. The temperature of rooms intended for human occupancy
will remain at a temperature between sixty-eight (68) and eighty-two
(82) degrees Fahrenheit.
(h)
Every boarding home facility must have water heating facilities
that are properly installed, vented, in good working condition, and
are properly connected with hot and cold water lines. The temperature
of water drawn at every required sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or
shower will remain at a temperature between one hundred and ten (110)
and one hundred and twenty (120) degrees Fahrenheit.
(i)
Every habitable room must have at least one window that can
be easily opened, or such other device as will ventilate the room.
Locks that can be easily opened manually from inside must be provided
on all exterior doors. All windows must be openable without tools.
The window opening must meet local codes for emergency egress. The
bottom of the window opening must not be more than 44 inches above
the floor.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
(a)
Sleeping rooms must have:
(1)
At least 70 square feet of floor space in single-occupancy rooms;
(2)
At least 60 square feet of floor space for each occupant in
multi-occupancy rooms;
(3)
Beds spaced at least three feet apart when placed side-by-side
or end-to-end;
(4)
At least a seven feet, six inches (7' 6") ceiling height;
(5)
Required accessibility for nonambulatory residents and residents
with conditions that substantially limit ambulation and/or mobility;
(6)
Beds at least six feet (6") long and three feet (3") wide equipped
with supportive springs in good condition and a clean supportive mattress
in good condition, and a mattress cover that prevents bodily fluids
from soiling the mattress;
(7)
At least one pillow with a clean pillowcase, two (2) clean sheets,
and a cover such as a blanket or quilt, in good condition, per bed,
cleaned weekly or more often if soiled;
(8)
Extra bed linens, including sheets, pillowcase and blankets
must be available to each resident;
(9)
At least one chest of drawers or equivalent, in good condition
having a sufficient number of drawers or other areas to contain all
necessary items of clothing and personal belongings of each resident
that can be locked/secured;
(10)
At least one chair in good condition in each sleeping room;
(11)
At least one end table in good condition located adjacent to
each bed in each sleeping room;
(12)
Sufficient hanging space to allow clothes not stored in drawers
to be hung. Clothing must not be stored on the floor;
(13)
Bath towels, washcloths, soap, individual comb and toothbrush
must be available at all times and in quantity sufficient to meet
the needs of the residents; and
(14)
Access to emergency exit without passing through another sleeping
room.
(b)
All equipment fixtures, furniture, and furnishings, including
windows, draperies, curtains, and carpets, must be kept clean and
free of dust, dirt, vermin, and other contaminants, and must be maintained
in good order and repair.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
Water closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers must be:
(1)
Available on each floor when not provided in each individual
room;
(2)
Provided in the ratio of one toilet and one lavatory, and one
bathtub or shower for every six residents, or fraction thereof; and
(3)
Accessible to the residents without going outside of the building
or without going through a sleeping room of another resident.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
A telephone must be available, 24 hours per day, must be easily
accessible, and must afford privacy for use by residents. A listing
of emergency telephone numbers, including the numbers of the local
police, fire department, ambulance, the office of local governmental
entity that issued the boarding house permit, the Texas Department
of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the local mental health
authority, and the Texas Information and Referral Network must be
placed in plain view on or next to the telephone and accessible to
persons who are visually or hearing impaired, as needed.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
Each boarding home facility must provide a washer and dryer
for every ten (10) residents, or fraction thereof that is properly
vented to the outside. Washer or dryer must be in a utility room/area
that is not in kitchen area.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
Each boarding home facility must provide:
(1)
A sitting/communal/recreational room for the common use of all
residents. Furniture must include comfortable chairs and tables, and
lamps in good repair and appearance;
(2)
A dining room located on the same floor as the communal kitchen
and must:
(A)
Be as nearly adjacent to the communal kitchen as practicable;
(B)
Be accessible to the residents, without going through a sleeping
room or sleeping dormitory of another resident;
(C)
Contain not less than 70 square feet of floor area; and
(D)
Be supplied with one dining chair and 2 linear feet of dining
table space for each resident of a boarding home facility.
(3)
A kitchen that:
(A)
Is accessible to the residents sharing the use without going
through a sleeping room or sleeping dormitory of another resident;
(B)
Has a food preparation area with a total of not less than six
(6) square feet;
(C)
Contains a minimum floor space of 60 square feet for dining
area or, each kitchen with dining attached must be at least 100 square
feet;
(D)
Has a minimum two compartment sink for manual dishwashing;
(E)
Has a cooking stove fueled by gas or electricity;
(F)
Contains at least one (1) cabinet of adequate size, suitable
for storage of food utensils; and
(G)
Is properly equipped to allow for the preparation of meals.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
(a)
Fire precautions must include:
(1)
Providing suitable fire escapes/exits that must be kept in good
repair and accessible at all times;
(2)
Having a written fire and evacuation plan that sets forth responsibilities
and steps to be taken by staff and residents in the event of fire
or other emergency;
(3)
Posting an emergency evacuation plan throughout the facility;
and
(4)
Not storing gasoline operated maintenance equipment, lawn care
equipment, and flammable supplies inside the boarding home facility.
(b)
Alarm precautions must include the following:
(1)
Extinguishers must be sufficiently provided, accessible, checked
monthly and recharged annually by a certified person;
(2)
All fire protection measures must be in accordance with requirements
of the local fire authority;
(3)
Smoke detectors must be hard-wired, working and equipped in
each bedroom, in corridors or hallways on each floor, and in laundry
and basement areas;
(4)
If a facility has a resident who is hearing impaired, a boarding
house owner/operator must install a visual smoke detector that is
capable of alerting a person with a hearing impairment of the presence
of fire or smoke; and
(5)
Carbon monoxide detectors must be working and equipped close
to sleeping areas.
(c)
All residents must be shown how to use all emergency exits from
the facility within 24 hours of arrival to the facility.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
The boarding home site must pass all required inspections and
the owner/operator must keep a current file of reports and other documentation
on-site needed to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. The inspections must be signed, dated, and free of any
outstanding corrective actions. The following inspections are required:
(1)
Annual inspection by the local fire authority or the state fire
marshal;
(2)
Annual inspection of the alarm system by the local fire authority
or an inspector authorized to install and inspect such systems;
(3)
Annual kitchen inspection by the local health authority;
(4)
Gas pipe pressure test once every three (3) years by the local
gas company or a licensed plumber;
(5)
Annual inspection and maintenance of fire extinguishers by personnel
licensed or certified to perform these duties; and
(6)
Annual inspection of liquefied petroleum gas systems by an inspector
certified by the state railroad commission.
(Ordinance 23-952 adopted 4/27/2023)
