No person shall operate a rooming house, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house, except in compliance with the provisions of every section of this chapter.
(A) (1) At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin, and bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Building Superintendent’s office and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each ten persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator’s family wherever they share the use of the said 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 water closets.
(2) All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times. No such facilities shall be located in a basement except by written approval of the Health Officer or Building Superintendent.
(B) The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once each week, and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner.
(C) Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least 60 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 40 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof over 12 years of age and at least 30 square feet for each occupant therein under 12 years of age
(D) Every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level, as required by the laws of this state and this city.
(E) The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors, and ceilings, and for 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 is leased or occupied by the operator.
(F) Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, except to the extent that any such provision may be found in conflict with the laws of this state or with the lawful regulations of any state board or agency.
(Ord. 2019-19, passed 11-4-2019)