A. 
Scope. The provisions of this article 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.
B. 
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 let to another for occupancy or use any premises which does not comply with the following requirements of this article.
C. 
Access to public property. All structures shall be provided access to public property. Such access means shall be maintained and unobstructed.
D. 
Open space. An open space, when used for the origin of light and ventilation, shall be maintained and unobstructed.
E. 
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.
A. 
General. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient light so as not to endanger health and safety.
B. 
Habitable spaces. Every habitable space shall have at least one window of approved size facing directly to the outdoors or to a court or some other approved means of ventilation. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every 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 millimeters) 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.
C. 
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 square meters) of floor area, provided that the spacing between lights shall not be greater than 30 feet (9,144 millimeters). Every exterior stairway shall be illuminated with a minimum of one footcandle (10.76 lux) at floors, landings and treads.
D. 
Other spaces. All other spaces shall be provide 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.
A. 
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.
B. 
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 or shall have an approved method of ventilation. The total openable window area in every room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size required by this code.
C. 
Toilet rooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable spaces as required by this code, 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.
D. 
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.
E. 
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.
F. 
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.
A. 
Separation of units. Dwelling units shall be separate and apart from each other. Sleeping rooms shall not be used as the only means of access to other sleeping rooms or habitable spaces.
B. 
Privacy. Hotel units, lodging units and dormitory units shall be designed to provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces.
C. 
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, barber or beauty shop, doctor's or dentist's examination or treatment room or similar room used for public purposes.
D. 
Below-grade rooms. Rooms partially or completely below grade shall not be used as a habitable space unless:
(1) 
Floors and walls are watertight so as to prevent entry of moisture.
(2) 
Total window area, total openable window area and ceiling height are in accordance with this code.
(3) 
Required minimum window area of every habitable space is entirely above the grade adjoining such window areas.
(4) 
Means of egress and emergency escape are provided in accordance with this code.
A. 
Area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet (6.51 square meters) of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet (4.65 square meters) of floor area for each occupant thereof.
B. 
Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted by the minimum occupancy area requirements of this section.
C. 
Prohibited use. It shall be prohibited to use for sleeping purposes any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space.
Minimum Occupancy Area Requirements
Minimum Occupancy Area in Square Feet
(square meters)
Space
1 to 2 occupants
3 to 5 occupants
6 or more occupants
Living room*
No requirements
120 (11.16)
150 (13.95)
Dining room*
No requirements
80 (7.44)
100 (9.30)
Kitchen
50 (4.65)
50 (4.65)
60 (5.58)
Bedrooms**
Must comply with Section ES-404.1[1]
NOTES:
*
Combined living 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.
**
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See the BOCA/National Existing Structures Code/1984.
D. 
Minimum ceiling heights. 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 millimeters), except that in attics or top half-stories the ceiling height shall be not less than seven feet (2,134 millimeters) 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 are of the room having a clear ceiling height of five feet (1,524 millimeters) or more may be included.
E. 
Correctional institutional occupancies. It is not intended that this code regulate the space requirements of correctional institutions.
F. 
Minimum room widths. Every habitable space shall have a clear room width of not less than seven feet (2,134 millimeters) at the narrowest point.
G. 
Exception. Kitchens require a clear passageway of not less than three feet (914 millimeters) between counters, appliances and/or walls.