(A) General. No person shall operate a rooming house or dormitory, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy, any dormitory room and/or rooming unit in any rooming house or dormitory which is not in compliance with the appropriate provisions of every section of this chapter. (‘74 Code, § 14.7-17)
(B) Sanitation and cleanliness. The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings; maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming house and the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased or occupied by the operator. ('74 Code, § 14.7-18)
(C) Violations and notice. Whenever, upon inspection of any rooming house, the Compliance Officer finds that conditions or practices exist which are in violation of any provision of this chapter, the Compliance Officer shall give notice in writing that unless such conditions or practices are corrected within a reasonable period, to be determined by the Enforcement Authority, the operation of such premises as such rooming house shall be discontinued and, if such rooming house operation is licensed by any duly constituted governmental agency, a recommendation that such license be revoked for the protection of public health shall be given to such licensing governmental body or agency by the Enforcement Authority. At the end of such period the Compliance Officer shall re-inspect such rooming house and if he finds that such conditions or practices have not been corrected, he shall give notice in writing to the operator that such operations shall cease, and, if such rooming house operation is licensed by any duly constituted governmental agency, the Enforcement Authority shall recommend the immediate revocation of such license by such issuing agency. Upon receipt of such notice from the Enforcement Authority such operator shall immediately cease operation of such rooming house and no person shall occupy, for sleeping or living purposes, any rooming unit within the house. ('74 Code, § 14.7-19)
(D) Standards and minimum requirements. No person shall operate a rooming house or dormitory, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dormitory room and/or rooming unit in any rooming house or dormitory, which does not comply with the following standards and minimum requirements.
(1) Water closet. At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Enforcement Authority and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each six persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family wherever they share the use of the facilities provided:
(a) That in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 50% the required number of water closets and provided that there shall be at least one water closet.
(b) That all such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible to all persons sharing such facilities and from a common hall or passageway and provided that such facilities are not located more than one floor above or below the rooming unit(s) served.
(c) That every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water under pressure at all times.
(d) That, if the rooming house has only one bathroom for use by the occupants of the rooming units, such bathroom shall not be located below grade.
(2) Cooking facilities. The following provision shall apply in all rooming houses and dormitories concerning cooking facilities and food service:
(a) Cooking in dormitory rooms and rooming units is prohibited.
(b) All food service and dining facilities provided in a rooming house or dormitory for the occupants of the same shall comply with applicable food service legislation.
(3) Access doors. Access doors to rooming units and dormitory rooms shall have operating locks to ensure privacy.
(4) Habitable room. Every rooming unit shall comply with all requirements of this chapter pertaining to habitable rooms.
(5) Occupancy. Every rooming unit occupied by one person shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor space and every rooming unit occupied by more than one person shall contain at least 60 square feet for each occupant thereof.
(6) Egress. Every rooming unit shall have immediate access to two or more approved means of egress, with minimum head room of six feet and six inches, appropriately marked, leading to a safe and open space at ground level or as required by applicable state and local codes and ordinances.
(7) Handrails and guardrails. All buildings containing rooming units, dormitories or dormitory units shall comply with all requirements of this chapter pertaining to handrails and guardrails.
(8) Separation of rooming units. Access to or egress from each rooming unit shall be provided without passing through any other rooming unit.
(9) Application of section to motels and hotels. Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to motels, motor lodges and hotels except to the extent that any such provision may be found in conflict with state and local codes and ordinances.
('14 Code, § 14.7-20) (Ord. G-31-85, passed 12-23-85; Am. Ord. G-25-99, passed 12-14-99; Am. Ord. G-03-09, passed 2-24-09; Am. Ord. G-9-17, passed 4-25-17)