Subd. 1. Basic Equipment and Facilities. No person shall occupy as an owner or occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any multifamily dwelling unit for the purposes of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements.
1. Exits, Stairways, Porches, and Balconies. Every exit, stairway, or flight of stairs, whether inside or outside of a dwelling, and every porch or balcony shall be kept in safe condition, sound repair, and free of combustible materials and deterioration, in accordance with the State Building Code and State Fire Code. Every stairwell and every flight of stairs which is more than two risers high shall have handrails which conform to the State Building Code. Every porch, balcony, or deck which is more than 30 inches high above the adjoining floor or grade shall be provided with a guardrail which conforms to the State Building Code.
2. Access to Multifamily Dwelling Units. Access to or egress from each multifamily dwelling unit shall be provided without passing through any other multifamily dwelling unit, storage room, mechanical room, bathroom or restroom, or vehicle garage.
3. Numbering of Multifamily Dwelling Units. All multifamily dwelling units shall be numbered or lettered in an approved and conspicuous manner. No two units shall bear the same number or letter. Accessible units must be identified as prescribed by State Building Code.
Subd. 2. Building Security and Door Locks. No person shall occupy as an owner or occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any multifamily dwelling unless a functioning security system is provided. Such security system must comply with the following requirements.
1. When access to a dwelling unit door is gained through a common corridor or entrance in a dwelling in which four or more dwelling units share a common entrance or corridor, an approved security system shall be maintained for each multiple-family building to control access. The security system shall consist of locked building entrance or foyer doors and locked doors leading from the hallways into individual dwelling units.
2. Multifamily building entrance doors shall be automatically latching and locking, and shall meet all requirements of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, being 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq., and the accessibility provisions of the State Building Code. Such building entrance door hardware must be “classroom function” from the egress side, to unlock and unlatch with a single operation, and readily openable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. An approved lock box accessible to the Fire Department shall be provided for access to the building.
3. Every door that provides ingress or egress for a multifamily dwelling unit shall be equipped with an approved lock that has a dead locking bolt that cannot be retracted by end pressure; provided, however, that such doors shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.
Subd. 3. Electrical Equipment and Alarm Systems. No person shall occupy as an owner or occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any multifamily dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements.
1. Electrical Equipment. Every multifamily dwelling unit and all public and common areas shall be supplied with functioning electrical service, functioning over current protection devices, functioning electrical outlets, and functioning electrical fixtures which are properly installed, which shall be maintained is a safe working condition and which shall be connected to a source of electric power.
2. Required Fixtures and Devices. Electrical fixtures and devices required by State Building Code and State Fire Code shall be maintained in a safe and working condition.
3. Exitway Illumination. Every public hall and stairway in every multifamily building shall be effectively illuminated by natural or electrical light at all times. A secondary power source by battery or other back-up power source shall be provided to all emergency illumination devices.
4. Exit Sign Illumination. Illuminated exit signs shall be provided in accordance with State Building Code and State Fire Code. A secondary power source by battery or other back-up power source shall be provided to all illuminated exit signs.
Subd. 4. Heating Appliance Safety. No unsafe heating appliance shall be used by any person in a multifamily building or multifamily dwelling unit. Unsafe conditions include, but are not limited to:
1. Gas or electrical appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes shall not be considered or used as heating facilities;
2. Portable heating equipment employing flame or the use of liquid fuel shall not be considered or used as heating facilities;
3. No owner or occupant shall install, operate, or use a space heater employing a flame that is not vented outside the structure in an approved manner; and/or
4. No multifamily building owner shall supply portable electric heaters to provide heat to a rental unit.
Subd. 5. Safe Building Elements. No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy, any multifamily dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements.
1. Every foundation, roof, floor, exterior wall, interior wall, ceiling, stairway porch, deck, balcony, and every appurtenance to each of the foregoing shall be structurally safe and capable of supporting normal structural loads as required by State Building Code.
2. Any equipment, utilities, chimneys, and flues required by State Building Code or State Fire Code shall function effectively in a safe and working condition.
3. Every yard, court, or passageway on premises on which a multifamily building is located shall be graded and drained so as to be free of standing water that constitutes a detriment to health and safety.
Subd. 6. Fire Safety. No person shall occupy as an owner or occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any multifamily dwelling unit for the purposes of living therein which does no comply with the following requirements:
1. Every existing multifamily dwelling unit shall be provided with smoke detectors conforming to Minnesota Statutes, State Building Code, and State Fire Code; and
2. Fire detection and alarm systems installed in multifamily buildings to monitor common use hallways and areas shall be maintained in good working order in accordance with State Building Code and State Fire Code. Such systems shall be connected to an approved central monitoring station and shall be tested and certified by a qualified fire alarm service company in writing to the Building Official within each multifamily housing registration period of two years.