No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to
another for occupancy or use any premises which does not comply with
the requirements of this article.
Every occupant of a premises shall keep all supplied
fixtures and facilities therein in a clean and sanitary condition
and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the
proper use and operation thereof.
All common areas or rooms shall be provided
with sufficient and adequate lighting and ventilation so as not to
endanger the health, safety and welfare of any person using such space.
Every habitable room shall have at least one window
or skylight facing directly to the outdoors, provided that, if connected
to a room or area used seasonally (e.g. porch), then adequate daylight
must be possible through this interconnection; have a minimum total
window area, measured between stops, at least 12 1/2% of the
floor area of such room; whenever walls or other portions of structures
face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures
are located less than three feet 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 and shall not be included
as contributing to the required minimum total window area; and whenever
the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of
such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least
15% of the total floor area of such room.
Every bathroom and water closet compartment and nonhabitable
room used for food preparation shall comply with the light standards
for habitable rooms contained in this code, except that no window
or skylight shall be required in such rooms if they are equipped with
a ventilation system in working condition which is approved by the
Director of Health.
Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling
shall be adequately lighted by natural or artificial light at all
times, so as to provide in all parts thereof at least 10 footcandles
of light at the tread of floor level. Every public hall and stairway
in structures containing not more than two dwelling units may be supplied
with conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting
system which may be turned on when needed instead of full-time lighting.
Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly outdoors which can easily be opened or closed or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room, provided that, if a habitable room is connected to a room or area used seasonally, then adequate ventilation must be possible through this interconnection. The total of openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type window size as required in § 105-35, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Director of Health.
Interior climate-control facilities (heating, cooling
and/or humidity) shall be maintained and operated in a continuous
manner and in accordance with the design capacity of the installed
equipment. When such equipment is inoperative because of power or
mechanical failure, alternative provisions for fresh air ventilation
of each dwelling or dwelling unit shall be provided.
Every bathroom and water closet compartment and nonhabitable
room used for food preparation shall comply with the ventilation standards
for habitable rooms contained in this section, except that no window
or skylight shall be required in such rooms if they are equipped with
a ventilation system in working condition which is approved by the
Director of Health.
All windows, doors and openings shall be kept in good
repair and workable condition and shall be easily opened and closed
by the occupants of the premises.
Every window, exterior door and hatchway or similar
device shall be so constructed as to exclude insects during that portion
of the year when there is a need for protection against mosquitoes,
flies and other flying insects.
Every doorway used for ventilation and opening directly
from a dwelling unit to outside space shall have supplied properly
fitting screens having at least 16 mesh and shall have a safe closing
device.
Every window or other device with openings to outdoor
space shall be supplied with screens fixed to the frame, except that
such screens shall not be required in rooms deemed by the Director
of Health to be located high enough as to be free from such insects
and/or in rooms located in areas of the Town of West Hartford which
are deemed by the Director of Health to have so few insects as to
render screens unnecessary.
All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements,
ground or first floors and roofs which have a half-inch diameter or
more opening shall be rodent- and ratproofed in an approved manner
if they are within 48 inches of the existing exterior ground level
immediately below such openings or if such opening may be reached
by rodents or rats from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires,
cornices, stairs, roofs and other items, such as trees or vines, or
by burrowing.
All windows located at or near ground level used or
intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at
or near ground level and all exterior doorways which might provide
an entry for rodents or rats shall be supplied with adequate screens
or such other devices as will effectively prevent the entrance of
rats into the premises.
The owner of a dwelling unit shall be responsible
for providing and hanging all screens and double or storm doors and
windows whenever the same are required under the provisions of this
chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, except
where there is a written agreement between the owner and occupant
obligating the occupant to do so. In the absence of such an agreement,
maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows, once
installed in any one season, becomes the responsibility of the occupant.
The occupant's responsibility shall be exclusive to his or her dwelling
unit.