No room which has its floor level below grade shall be occupied as a habitable room unless it conforms to all of the following standards, in addition to all other requirements of this Housing Code for habitable rooms:
(a) The room shall have been, prior to the effective date of this Housing Code (Ordinance 11-1962, passed May 7, 1962), originally designed and constructed for or legally converted to use as a habitable room.
(b) The walls and floor enclosing the room shall be maintained in such condition as to prevent the accumulation of water into the habitable space.
(c) All required openings for light and ventilation shall be located entirely above the average adjoining grade. However, such openings may face upon an areaway or window well where the width of such well, measured perpendicularly to the building wall at such opening, is not less than the distance from the bottom of the window to the finished grade at such window.
(d) The height of the finished ceiling of such room above the average adjoining ground level shall be at least fifty percent (50%) of the clear ceiling height of the room.
(Ord. 102-1983. Passed 12-19-83.)