No person shall operate or permit to be occupied
a rooming house which does not comply with the requirements of this
article.
A.
The provisions of §§ 247-76, 247-82, 247-83, 247-84, 247-94, 247-98, 247-105, 247-117, 247-118 and 247-119 shall be applicable to each rooming house and rooming unit. For the purposes of this section, wherever in the above-enumerated sections the term "dwelling" is used, it shall be construed to mean "rooming house," and wherever the term "dwelling unit" is used, it shall be construed to mean "rooming unit."
B.
The provisions of §§ 247-70, 247-77, 247-85, 247-87, 247-88, 247-93, 247-100, 247-104, 247-105 and 247-106 shall be applicable to each rooming house. For the purposes of this section, wherever in the above-enumerated sections the term "dwelling" is used, it shall be construed to mean "rooming house."
A.
When the Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement determines
that a rooming house and each rooming unit therein complies with all
the pertinent requirements of this chapter and all rules and regulations
adopted pursuant thereto, he or she shall issue an occupancy record
card which shall designate the maximum number of persons who may occupy
such rooming house and each rooming unit therein, designate each rooming
unit as a Type A, B or C rooming unit and designate the room number
assigned to that unit.
B.
The operator shall display the occupancy record card
at all times in a conspicuous place near the main entrance of the
rooming house, except that in rooming houses having 20 or more rooming
units, the occupancy record card may be posted at the registration
desk.
C.
Altering, tampering or removing the occupancy record
card from the rooming house is prohibited.
D.
The Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement shall
keep a duplicate of the occupancy record card in his or her files.
The number of each rooming unit as designated
on the occupancy record card shall be placed on the outside of the
main door to such unit in a plain and conspicuous manner. No two rooming
units shall bear the same number. The number and type shall be posted
in each such unit and shall not be changed without the written approval
of the Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement.
A.
Every rooming house shall be supplied with at least
one approved flush toilet and lavatory basin properly connected to
an approved water supply and sewerage system and in good working condition
for each eight persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming
house. In counting such persons, members of the operator's family
who share the use of such sanitary facilities shall be included, but
occupants of any rooming units that are otherwise provided with an
approved flush toilet and lavatory basin shall be excluded.
B.
All such sanitary facilities shall be located within
the rooming house so as to be directly accessible to all persons sharing
such facilities without entering another rooming unit or dwelling
unit and shall be contained within a room or compartment which affords
privacy to a person within such room or compartment.
C.
No such required sanitary facilities shall be located
in a cellar. Sanitary facilities located in the basement may be included
in the required number of such facilities whenever a majority of rooming
units serviced by such facilities are located in the basement, but
not otherwise.
[Amended 7-25-1996 by Ch. No. 2420]
A.
Every rooming house shall be supplied with at least
one bathtub or shower bath, properly connected to an approved water
supply and sewerage system, and in good working condition for each
eight persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house.
In counting such persons, members of the operator's family who share
the use of such sanitary facilities shall be included, but occupants
of any rooming units who are otherwise provided with an approved bathtub
or shower bath shall be excluded.
B.
All such sanitary facilities shall be located within
the rooming houses so as to be directly accessible to all persons
sharing such facilities without entering another rooming unit or dwelling
unit, and shall be contained within a room or compartment which affords
privacy to a person within such room or compartment.
C.
No such required sanitary facilities shall be located
in a cellar. Sanitary facilities located in the basement may be included
in the required number of such facilities whenever a majority of rooming
units serviced by such facilities are located in the basement, but
not otherwise.
[Amended 7-25-1996 by Ch. No. 2420]
Every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin
and bathtub or shower bath in a rooming house shall be supplied with
hot water at all times.
The floor surface of every toilet room or compartment
and bathroom of a rooming house shall be constructed of material impervious
to water; or if constructed of material not impervious to water, it
shall be covered with fitted linoleum or painted or varnished so as
to make the floor surface reasonably impervious to water. All such
floors shall be kept in a dry, clean and sanitary condition by the
operator.
The operator of a rooming house shall be responsible
for the supply, maintenance and cleanliness of adequate and separate
rubbish and garbage storage containers approved as to type and location.
The occupant shall be responsible for the removal of all rubbish and
garbage from the rooming unit and the storage of such waste in a clean
and sanitary manner by placing it in the required containers.
[Amended 7-25-1996 by Ch. No. 2420]
Every rooming house and rooming unit shall be
supplied either with adequate heating facilities or with chimneys
or flues sufficient to accommodate facilities for the safe and adequate
heating of all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms or compartments.
Where central heating equipment is not supplied by the owner, heating
equipment as herein specified shall be provided by the operator. Heating
equipment shall be capable of maintaining a minimum air temperature
of at least 68° F. at three feet above the floor level in all
habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms or compartments during
an outside air temperature of 0° F. Doors, windows and other parts
of the rooming house shall be constructed and maintained by the owner
so as to prevent abnormal heat losses.
Every public hall and common stairway used primarily
for egress or ingress in every rooming house shall be supplied with
a proper amount of natural or electric light at all times. All common
stairways not used primarily for egress or ingress in all rooming
houses shall be properly supplied with conveniently located switches
controlling an adequate electric lighting system which may be turned
on when needed.
The operator of every rooming house shall supply
every window of every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room or
compartment with shades or other devices or materials which will afford
privacy to the occupant.
From May 1 to October 1 of every year, every
opening, except bulkheads, used for ingress or egress from a rooming
house or rooming unit directly to or from outdoor space shall be supplied
with either a self-closing device or self-closing screen door, and
every window of every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room or
compartment and every other window or opening below the sixth floor
of the rooming house or rooming unit to outdoor space while in use
for ventilation shall be supplied with approved screening by the operator.
The operator of every rooming house shall supply
clean bed linens and towels at least once a week and prior to the
letting of any rooming unit, unless the occupant supplies such bed
linens and towels himself.
The operator of every rooming house shall be
responsible for the clean and sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors
and ceilings in every rooming unit and other parts of the rooming
house, including the community kitchen and the common areas of the
rooming house.
The operator of every rooming house shall be
responsible for the extermination of rodents, vermin or other pests
within every portion of the rooming house and any portion of the dwelling
or structure that is leased or occupied by him or her, provided that
whenever infestation also occurs in any other portion of the dwelling
or structure or whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner
to carry out the provisions of this chapter, extermination shall be
the responsibility of the owner.
The operator of every rooming house shall be
responsible for the exercise of proper care and cleanliness in the
use and operation of all plumbing fixtures, sanitary facilities, appliances
and equipment therein. The owner of such plumbing fixtures, sanitary
facilities, appliances and equipment shall be responsible for the
maintenance thereof.
Occupancy in Type A rooming units shall not
exceed two persons.
Every room in any rooming unit occupied for
sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least 70 square feet
of floor space. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more
than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space
for each occupant thereof, provided that in Type A rooming units consisting
of only one room, the minimum floor space shall be one hundred 120
square feet for the first occupant and 50 additional square feet for
the second occupant thereof.
[Amended 7-25-1996 by Ch. No. 2420]
In Type A rooming units consisting of two rooms,
one room containing a minimum of 60 square feet of floor space shall
be supplied with an adequate and approved cooking stove, kitchen sink
and refrigerated storage space. Type A rooming units consisting of
one room shall contain an adequate and approved cooking stove, kitchen
sink and refrigerated storage space. Cooking equipment burning solid
fuel shall be rigidly connected to a chimney or flue, and cooking
equipment burning liquid or gaseous fuel shall be rigidly connected
to a supply line. Cooking equipment of any type using such fuels shall
not be permitted in any room used for sleeping purposes.
A.
Every community kitchen servicing Type B rooming units
shall have adequate and approved floor space, shall be accessible
to each person entitled to the use thereof, without going outside
of the rooming house and without entering another dwelling unit or
rooming unit, and shall be supplied by the operator with the following
adequate and approved facilities:
(1)
One kitchen stove for each eight Type B rooming units
or fraction thereof.
(2)
One kitchen sink for each eight Type B rooming units
or fraction thereof.
(3)
Refrigerated storage space for each Type B rooming
unit. Where ice is used for the purpose of cooling, it shall be supplied
by the operator, and every icebox drain shall be properly connected
to an approved sewer system.
(4)
One kitchen table or other working surface for each
kitchen stove.
(5)
One insect- and verminproof cabinet suitable for storage
of nonperishable food and eating and cooking utensils for each Type
B rooming unit.
B.
Every kitchen sink in a community kitchen shall be
supplied by the operator with hot water at all times and at a minimum
temperature of 120° F.
[Amended 7-25-1996 by Ch. No. 2420]
Cooking and cooking equipment is prohibited
in every Type B and Type C rooming unit. The operator shall post notice
of this section in every such unit.
[Added 10-25-1973 by Ch. No. 1424]
Rooming unit doors shall have operating locks
to ensure privacy.
[Added 10-25-1973 by Ch. No. 1424]
Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by
one person shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor space, and
every room occupied for sleeping by more than one person shall contain
at least 60 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof,
and every such room shall also contain at least four square feet of
closet space per occupant with at least an unobstructed height of
five feet. If it is lacking in whole or in part, an amount of space,
equal in square footage to the deficiency, shall be subtracted from
the total of habitable room space used in determining permissible
occupancy.
[Added 10-25-1973 by Ch. No. 1424]
Structurally sound handrails shall be provided
on any steps containing five risers or more. If steps are not enclosed,
handrails and balusters spaced no more than six inches apart shall
be provided. Porches and/or balconies located more than three feet
higher than the adjacent areas shall have (structurally) sound protective
handrails 30 to 36 inches apart and if unenclosed balusters spaced
no more than six inches apart shall also be provided. Alternate systems
providing at least the same degree of safety, if approved by the appropriate
authority, will be accepted.
