No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements.
(A) Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be 4% of the floor area of such room. Whenever walls or other portions of structures face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures are located less than three feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area, but shall be considered as a skylight type window. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight type window in the top of such room, or is considered as such as hereinbefore noted, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least 6% of the total floor area of such room.
(B) Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can be easily opened, or such other device as will adequately ventilate and provide emergency access to the room. The total of openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type window size as required in division (A) above, except where there is supplied some other approved device affording adequate ventilation and access (entry and exit).
(C) In no case shall the minimum window size for at least one window or skylight in all rooms used for sleeping purposes be less than two feet by one and one-half feet, unless other equal direct fire access from the outside is provided, without passing through other rooms. This minimum size for fire access to sleeping rooms shall be measured between window stops with sash removed.
(D) The requirements for windows and skylights in kitchens may be met by increasing the window area in an adjacent room if no door or other closure is provided between the kitchen and other room and the opening between the two rooms is no less than 40 square feet.
(E) Light and ventilation requirements for interior rooms in remodeled existing structures, except for basement areas, and light and ventilation requirements for energy efficient buildings and underground buildings, shall be considered as special situations, but must meet the following minimum requirements:
(1) Where design permits, sleeping rooms shall be located where light and ventilation can be obtained conventially, and shall be in accordance with the above mentioned criteria; or
(2) Where light and ventilation cannot be provided conventially, automatic forced ventilation shall be provided, which shall consist of mechanical ventilation providing no less than two air changes per hour to all habitable rooms. All equipment must be approved.
(F) Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in divisions (A) and (B) above, except that no window or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closet compartments equipped with a ventilation system which operate when any light in the room is on.
(G) Every habitable room of such dwelling shall contain at least two separate floor or wall type electric convenience outlets, or one such convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling type electric light fixture; and every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and public hall shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall type electric light fixture. Every such outlet and fixture shall be properly installed, shall be maintained in good and safe working condition and shall be connected to the source of electric power in a safe manner.
(H) Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and maintained in safe and good working condition, and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least 70°F at a distance three feet above floor level under ordinary minimum winter conditions.
(I) Every public hall and stairway in every multiple-dwelling where said hall serves five or more dwelling units shall be adequately lighted at all times. Every public hall and stairway in structures devoted solely to dwelling occupancy and containing not more than four dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches, controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed, instead of full-time lighting.
(J) During that portion of each year when the Housing Officer deems it necessary for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outdoor space shall have supplied screens and a self-closing device; and every window or other device with openings to outdoor space, used, or intended to be used for ventilation, shall likewise be supplied with screens; provided, that such screens shall not be required during such period in rooms deemed by the Housing Officer to be located high enough in the upper stories of buildings as to be free from such insects, and in rooms located in areas of this city which are deemed by the Housing Officer to have so few such insects as to render screens unnecessary.
(K) Every basement or cellar window used or intended to be used for ventilation, and every other opening to a basement which might provide an entry for rodents, shall be supplied with a screen or such other device as will effectively prevent their entrance.
(Ord. 1273, passed 5-4-1981) Penalty, see § 150.99