(A) Facilities.
(1) Sanitary.
(a) Every dwelling shall be furnished with a potable water supply system.
(b) Every dwelling unit shall contain not less than a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, and a water closet all maintained in good, sanitary, and safe working condition and properly connected to an approved water and sewer system.
(c) Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition free from defects, leaks and obstruction and be capable of performing the function for which such plumbing fixtures are designed.
(2) Location of sanitary facilities. All required plumbing fixtures shall be located within the dwelling and be accessible to the occupants. Bathroom facilities shall afford privacy to the occupants.
(3) Hot and cold water supply. Water closets shall be connected to an adequate cold water supply. All other required plumbing fixtures shall be connected to an adequate supply of both hot and cold water.
(4) Water heating. Every dwelling shall have a water heater, installed and maintained in accordance with the North Carolina State Building Code and capable of providing an adequate amount of heated water to be drawn at every required sink, lavatory, bathtub, shower, and laundry facility at a minimum temperature of 116°F.
(5) Heating. Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and maintained in safe and good working condition and are capable of heating all rooms to a temperature of 68°F at a distance of three feet above the floor at an outside temperature of 14°F. Portable heaters and unvented fuel burning heaters do not meet the requirements of this section. The use of unvented fuel burning heaters is prohibited in any bedroom. Heating appliances shall have clearances complying with the North Carolina State Building Code.
(6) Chimneys. Chimneys must be safe for use as specified and intended, constructed or installed and maintained in accordance with the North Carolina State Building Code. Chimneys that do not meet the minimum code requirements shall be repaired or sealed.
(7) Cooking equipment. All cooking equipment and facilities shall be installed in an approved manner and shall be maintained in a safe working condition. Portable cooking equipment employing flame is prohibited as a substitute for approved cooking equipment.
(B) Light and ventilation. All dwelling units shall contain enough windows facing directly to the outdoors on multiple sides of the structure to allow natural light into the structure and to ventilate the air on every living level. Every hall and stairway of every dwelling unit shall be electrically lighted including exterior stairways and stairways in public spaces.
(C) Electrical systems.
(1) Electrical service. The minimum standards provided in the National Electric Code must be maintained in every dwelling. Any new or replacement receptacle outlets shall have ground fault circuit interrupter protection, as required.
(2) Lights and outlets.
(a) Every hall, water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room or furnace room shall contain at least one light fixture outlet.
(b) In any bathroom or laundry room there shall be provided at least one receptacle outlet.
(c) All outlets, switches, wiring and light fixtures shall be safe and operable. No extension cords shall be spliced or used as fixed wiring in a dwelling.
(D) Exterior and interior.
(1) Foundation. The building foundation system shall be maintained in a safe manner and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon. Beneath the dwelling there must be firm ground, no mud or standing water. Adequate means to gain access to the crawl space or basement shall be provided.
(2) Exterior walls. Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks or loose or rotting boards. Cracking and chipped paint shall not exceed 50% of the surface on any exterior wall. All siding materials shall be kept in repair.
(3) Roofs. Roofs shall be structurally sound, maintained in a safe manner and have no defects which might admit rain or dampness in the walls. The following may constitute evidence of defects:
(a) Missing shingles;
(b) Missing flashing;
(c) Roof deflection greater than one-sixth of the depth of the rafters or rafters cracked;
(d) Damage to ceilings in rooms immediately below roof; and
(e) Fire damage.
(4) Attics. Attics shall be ventilated.
(5) Means of egress. In multi-family dwellings having two or more dwelling units above the first story, every dwelling unit above the first story shall have access to at least two exit ways.
(6) Stairs, porches protective railings and appurtenances. Every inside and outside stair, porch, protective railing and appurtenance thereto shall be maintained in accordance with the North Carolina State Building Code applicable at the time of construction.
(7) Windows and window assemblies.
(a) Each window shall be substantially weather tight, watertight and be of sound working condition and good repair.
(b) Each window sash shall be fully supplied with glass windowpanes without cracks or holes. Wood, cardboard, polyethylene or other plastic film, are not approved substitutes. Broken single pane windows must be replaced.
(c) Each window required for ventilation for habitable rooms or spaces shall be capable of being easily opened and closed and secured in position by window hardware.
(8) Exterior doors.
(a) Every exterior door, basement door, attic door and hatchway shall be substantially weather tight, watertight and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(b) Every exterior door to a dwelling shall be provided with properly installed hardware that is maintained to insure reasonable ease to open or close. All exterior doors shall be capable of being locked from the inside and outside.
(9) Exterior door frames. Exterior doorframes shall be properly maintained and shall be equipped with weather stripping and thresholds as required to be weather tight, watertight and rodent and insect restrictive when the door is closed. Exterior doorjambs, stops, headers and moldings shall be securely attached to the dwelling and maintained in good condition.
(10) Accessory buildings. Garages, storage buildings and all other accessory structures shall be structurally sound. When the condition of plumbing, heating, structural or electrical components present imminent danger to occupants or to the public, if the outbuilding is accessible to the public, those facilities shall be made safe in a manner consistent with this code or be torn down and removed.
(11) Interior floors. Every floor shall be substantially vermin proof, shall be kept in sound condition and good repair and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon. No rotted or loose flooring shall be allowed. (Note: walls and ceilings have been deleted.)
(12) Structural supports. Every structural element of the dwelling shall be maintained in a sound condition and show no evidence of deterioration which would render it incapable of carrying normal loads.
(1989 Code, Title VI, Ch. 80, § 8) (Ord. passed 6-10-2003; Ord. 2019-08, passed 8-13-2019; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)