No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any dwelling unit, or portion thereof, which includes, but is not limited to, rental dwellings, rental units, rooming units or any portion of a rooming house, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 155A of this code of ordinances. The requirements of the International Property Maintenance Code, 2018 Edition (“IPMC”), adopted in Chapter 155A of this code of ordinances, are hereby incorporated by reference and shall constitute the maintenance standards required for rental and owner-occupied properties covered by this chapter.
To the extent any of the following requirements are not set out specifically in the IPMC (2018), the following minimum standards shall apply.
(A) Occupant responsible for controlled area.
(1) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean, safe and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof that person occupies and controls.
(2) The floor and floor covering shall be kept reasonably clean and sanitary.
(3) Every wall and ceiling shall be reasonably clean and free of dirt or greasy film.
(4) No dwelling or the premises thereof shall be used for the storage or handling of refuse.
(5) No occupant shall keep or store property of any kind in any shared or public area of the dwelling and premises thereof, nor shall any occupant place any garbage, refuse or rubbish in any shared or public area.
(B) Plumbing fixtures. The occupants of a dwelling unit shall keep all supplied plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the use and operation thereof.
(C) Supplied heating facilities. Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care, proper use and proper operation of supplied heating facilities.
(D) Electrical wiring. No temporary wiring or extension cords shall be used except extension cords that run directly from portable electric fixtures to convenience outlets, and that do not lie beneath floor coverings or extend through doorways, transoms or similar apertures in structural elements or attached thereto.
(E) Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. No tenant shall remove or disconnect any smoke- or carbon monoxide-detecting devices.
(F) Prohibited animals. No horses, cows, calves, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, geese or ducks shall be kept in any dwelling or part thereof. No animal shall be kept on the same lot or premises with a dwelling except under the conditions as may be prescribed by the Housing Inspector.
(G) Toilets and lavatory basins. At least one toilet, and one lavatory basin in good working condition, shall be supplied for each eight persons, or fraction thereof, residing within a rooming house, including members of the rooming house operator’s family wherever they share the facilities; provided, that in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one half of the required number of toilets.
(H) Baths. At least one bath, in good working condition, shall be supplied for each eight persons, or fraction thereof, residing within a rooming house, including members of the rooming house operator’s family whenever they share the use of the facilities.
(I) Sanitary maintenance. The rooming house operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings, and for the maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming house; and shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building within which the rooming house is contained is leased or occupied by the owner. The occupant of every rooming unit shall keep personal belongings contained within the unit in a clean, neat and orderly condition so as to facilitate the ability of the operator to discharge responsibilities for sanitary maintenance within every rooming unit as set forth in this section.
(J) Fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers shall be required in all rental applications, including one- and two-family dwellings marketed for rent (single family homes and duplexes) and in living units within multi-family structures (apartment buildings). Fire extinguisher requirements including size, type, installation, and maintenance are outlined in Ch. 152 of this code.
(K) Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are required in all rentals, including one- and two-family dwellings marketed for rent (single family homes and duplexes) and in living units within multi-family structures (apartment buildings). Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation and maintenance are outlined in Ch. 152 of this code.
(Ord. 2664, passed 12-8-2020; Ord. 2731, passed 6-27-2023)