The following shall constitute the minimum standards and requirements for buildings and shall be pertinent in determining fitness for human habitation.
(A) Space and use requirements.
(1) Any building, or portion thereof, used for human habitation shall not be less than 350 square feet total floor space.
(2) At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet and six inches.
(3) Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area. The floor area of any part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area computing the total area of the room to determine maximum permissible occupancy.
(4) No cellar shall be used for living purposes.
(5) No basement shall be used for living purposes unless:
(a) The floor and walls are substantially watertight; or
(b) The total window area, total openable window area and ceiling height are equal to those required for habitable rooms.
(B) Light and ventilation requirements.
(1) Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area for every habitable room shall be 10% of the floor area of the room. Whenever the only window is a skylight-type window in the top of the room, the total window area of the skylight shall be at least 15% of the total floor area of the room.
(2) Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can easily be opened or the other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least 4% of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type window size as required, or shall have other approved, equivalent ventilation.
(C) Exit requirements.
(1) There shall be two main exits, each at least 30 inches wide and six feet and eight inches high, easily accessible to the occupants. All exit doors shall be easily operable and remotely located from one another.
(2) There shall be platforms, steps and/or handrails provided and accessible to grade to serve as exits and they shall be maintained in safe condition.
(3) There shall be a safe and unobstructed exit from the interior of the building to the exterior of the building.
(D) Plumbing requirements.
(1) Each dwelling unit shall be connected to a potable water supply and to a public sewer system or other approved sanitary sewer system.
(2) Each dwelling unit shall contain not less than a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, water closet, and a supply of both cold water and hot water. All water shall be supplied through an approved pipe distribution system connected to a potable water supply.
(3) All plumbing fixtures shall conform to the standards of the Town Plumbing Code and shall be maintained in a state of good repair and working order.
(4) All required plumbing fixtures shall be located within the dwelling unit and be accessible to the occupants of same. The tub or shower shall be located in a room or rooms affording privacy to the user.
(E) Heating requirements.
(1) Every dwelling unit shall be weatherproof and capable of being adequately heated, and the heating equipment in every dwelling unit shall be in a state of good repair and working order.
(2) Heating system shall be properly installed and maintained in good and safe working conditions and capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in an occupied building to a temperature of at least 70ºF at a distance of three feet above floor level with an outside temperature at 20ºF.
(3) All gas and oil heating equipment shall be listed by Underwriters Laboratories or American Gas Association and installed with the provisions of the Town Heating Code.
(4) Liquid fuel stored on the premises shall be stored in accordance with the provisions of the Town Fire Prevention Code.
(5) There shall be no loose bricks in chimneys.
(6) There shall be no holes in flues.
(7) There shall be no hanging masonry chimneys.
(8) Thimbles shall be grouted in tightly.
(9) Thimbles shall not be broken or cracked.
(10) Thimbles shall be high enough for stovepipe to rise one-fourth inch per foot minimum.
(11) Hearth, where required, shall be at least 16 inches deep and six inches beyond each side of fireplace opening.
(12) No combustible materials shall be within seven inches of the top and seven inches of either side of fireplace opening.
(13) If fireplace opening is closed, it shall be a masonry closure.
(14) Stove shall be within six feet of thimble serving the stove.
(15) No combustible material shall be within 12 inches of stovepipe.
(16) No stovepipe shall be through combustible walls.
(17) In apartment buildings, institutional buildings and rooming houses with central heat, the furnace room shall be enclosed with material having at least a one-hour protection rating.
(F) Electrical requirements.
(1) Every dwelling shall be wired for electric lights and convenience receptacles. Every habitable room shall contain at least two floor- or wall-type electric convenience receptacles, connected in the manner prescribed by the Town Electrical Code. There shall be installed in every bathroom, water closet room, laundry room and furnace room at least one electric light fixture.
(2) Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted by electric lights at all times when natural daylight is not sufficient.
(3) All fixtures, receptacles, equipment and wiring shall be maintained in a state of good repair, safe, capable of use and installed in accordance with the Town Electrical Code.
(G) Structural requirements.
(1) Walls or partitions or supporting members, sills, joists, rafters or other structural members shall not list, lean or buckle and shall not be rotted, deteriorated or damaged, and shall not have holes or cracks which might admit rodents.
(2) Floors or roofs shall have adequate supporting members and strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
(3) Foundations, foundation walls, piers or other foundation supports shall not be deteriorated or damaged.
(4) Steps, stairs, landings, porches or other parts or appurtenances shall be maintained in the condition that they will not fall or collapse.
(5) Interior walls and ceilings of all rooms, closets and hallways shall be finished of suitable materials, which will by use of reasonable household methods promote sanitation and cleanliness, and shall be maintained in the manner so as to enable the occupants to maintain reasonable privacy between various spaces.
(6) The roof flashings, exterior walls, basement walls, floors and all doors and windows exposed to the weather shall be constructed and maintained so as to be weather and watertight.
(7) There shall be no use of the ground for floors or wood floors on the ground.
(H) Property maintenance.
(1) Every foundation wall, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be substantially weathertight and rodent proof, shall be kept in sound condition and good repair, shall be capable of affording privacy and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon. Every exterior wall shall be protected with paint or other protective covering to prevent the entrance or penetration of moisture or weather.
(2) Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be substantially watertight and rodent proof; and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(3) Every window, exterior door, basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be substantially watertight and rodent proof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(4) Every outside and inside stair, porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe and capable of supporting the load that normal use may place thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(5) Every bathroom floor surface and water closet compartment floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit the floor to be easily kept in a safe and sanitary condition.
(6) Every yard shall be properly graded so as to maintain thorough drainage and so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
(7) Every yard and all exterior property areas shall be kept free of species of weeds or plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health.
(8) In every dwelling unit windows and doors opening to the outdoors shall have screens and shall be properly maintained.
(9) Grounds and buildings shall be maintained free of infestation of rodents and/or insects.
(10) There shall be adequate sanitary facilities and methods provided and used for the storage, handling and disposal of garbage and rubbish. These methods and facilities shall comply with all sanitary and public health requirements of the town and the County Health Department.
(Prior Code, § 17-10)