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(A) General.
(1) Every habitable room shall have at least 1 window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors.
(2) The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be 10% of the floor area of the room.
(3) Whenever walls or other portions of structures face a window or any room and light-obstructing structures are located less than 5 feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, the 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.
(4) Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of the room, the total window area of the skylight shall equal at least 15% of the floor area of the room.
(B) Habitable rooms.
(1) Every habitable room shall have at least 1 window or skylight which can easily be opened, or other device as will adequately ventilate the room.
(2) The total 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, or shall have other approved, equivalent ventilation.
(C) Bathroom and water closet rooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms except that no windows or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closet rooms equipped with an approved ventilation system.
(Ord. – § 6, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
(A) Room sizes.
(1) Every dwelling unit shall contain at least the minimum room size in each habitable room as required by the State Residential Building Code.
(2) Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of habitable floor area for the first occupant, at least 100 square feet of additional habitable area for each of the next 3 occupants, and at least 75 square feet of additional habitable floor area for each additional occupant.
(3) In every dwelling unit and in every rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by 1 occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than 1 occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant 12 years of age and over and at least 35 square feet of floor area for each occupant under 12 years of age.
(B) Ceiling height. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet and 6 inches.
(C) Floor area calculation.
(1) Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area. However, closet area and wall area within the dwelling unit may count for not more than 10% of the required habitable floor area.
(2) The floor area of any part of any room where the ceiling height is less than 4-1/2 feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area for the purpose of determining maximum permissible occupancy.
(D) Cellar. No cellar shall be used for living purposes.
(E) Basements. No basement shall be used for living purposes unless:
(1) The floor and walls are substantially watertight;
(2) The total window area, total openable window area and ceiling height are equal to those required for habitable rooms; and
(3) The required minimum window area of every habitable room is entirely above the grade adjoining the window area, except where the window or windows face a stairwell, window well or accessway.
(Ord. – § 7, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
(A) Exterior foundation, walls and roofs.
(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 would cause to be placed thereon.
(2) Every exterior wall shall be protected with paint or other protective covering to prevent the entrance or penetration of moisture or the weather.
(B) Interior floors walls and ceilings. Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be substantially rodent-proof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use would cause to be placed thereon.
(C) Windows and doors. Every window, exterior door, basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be substantially weather-tight, watertight and rodent proof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(D) Stairs, porches and appurtenances. Every outside and inside stair, porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use would cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(E) Bathroom floors. Every bathroom floor surface and water closet compartment floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so that it will be reasonably impervious to water and will permit the floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(F) Supplied facilities. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility which is required under this chapter shall be so constructed or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
(G) Drainage. Every yard shall be properly graded in order to obtain thorough drainage and to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
(H) Noxious weeds. 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.
(I) Egress. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with adequate means of egress as required by the State Residential Building Code.
(Ord. – § 8, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
(A) Screens.
(1) In every dwelling unit, for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outdoor space shall be equipped with screens and a self-closing device.
(2) Every window or other device with openings to outdoor space, used or intended to be used for ventilation, shall likewise be equipped with screens; provided that dwelling units containing central air conditioning equipment or window-type air conditioning units which will satisfactorily cool and ventilate the dwelling unit are not required to have screens in door and window openings.
(B) Rodent control. 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 equipped with screens or such other approved device as will effectively prevent their entrance.
(C) Infestation.
(1) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than 1 dwelling unit shall be responsible for extermination whenever his or her dwelling unit is the only one infested.
(2) Whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rodent proof or reasonably insect proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(3) Whenever infestation exists in 2 or more or the dwelling units in any dwelling or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing 2 or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(D) Rubbish storage and disposal. Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be supplied with approved containers and covers for storage of rubbish as required by town ordinances, and the owner, operator or agent in control of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall be responsible for the removal of rubbish.
(E) Garbage storage and disposal. Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be supplied with approved garbage cans or approved garbage disposal facility, which may be an adequate mechanical garbage disposal unit (mechanical sink grinder) in each dwelling unit, or an approved outside garbage can as required by town ordinances.
(Ord. – § 9, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
All of the provisions of this chapter, and all of the minimum standards and requirements of this chapter, shall be applicable to rooming houses, and to every person who operates a rooming house, or who occupies or lets to another for occupancy and any rooming unit in any rooming house, except as provided in the following divisions.
(A) Water closet, hand lavatory and bath facilities.
(1) At least 1 water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, properly connected to an approved water and sewer system and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each 4 rooms within a rooming house wherever these facilities are shared.
(2) All like facilities shall be located within the residence building served and shall be directly accessible from a common hall or passageway and shall be not more than 1 story removed from any of the persons sharing the facilities.
(3) Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water at all times. The required facilities shall not be located in a cellar.
(B) Minimum floor area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by 1 occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than 1 occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant 12 years of age and over and at least 35 square feet of floor area for each occupant under 12 years of age.
(C) Sanitary conditions.
(1) The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings, and for the sanitary maintenance of every other part of the rooming house.
(2) He or she 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 operator.
(D) Sanitary facilities. Every water closet, flush urinal, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required by division (A) above shall be located within the rooming house and within a room or rooms which afford privacy, are separate from the habitable rooms, are accessible from a common hall, and are accessible without going outside the rooming house or through any other room therein.
(Ord. – § 10, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
(A) Public areas. Every owner of a dwelling containing 2 or more dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof.
(B) Cleanliness. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he or she occupies and controls.
(C) Rubbish and garbage.
(1) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his or her rubbish and garbage in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in the supplied storage facilities.
(2) In all cases, the owner shall be responsible for the availability of rubbish and garbage storage facilities.
(D) Supplied plumbing fixtures. Every occupant 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 proper use and operation of same.
(E) Care of facilities, equipment and structure. No occupant shall willfully destroy, deface or impair any of the facilities or equipment, or any part of the structure of a dwelling or dwelling unit.
(Ord. – § 11, passed 8-27-1990) Penalty, see § 150.99
(A) The Housing Inspector is hereby designated as the officer to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to exercise the duties and powers herein prescribed.
(B) The Housing Inspector is authorized to exercise powers that may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purpose and provisions of this chapter.
(C) The Housing Inspector shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To investigate the dwelling conditions, and to inspect dwellings and dwelling units located in the town, in order to determine which dwellings and dwelling units are unfit for human habitation, and for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of this chapter with respect to the repair, closing or demolition of dwelling and dwelling units;
(2) To take action, together with other appropriate departments and agencies, public and private, as may be necessary to effect rehabilitation of housing which is deteriorated;
(3) To keep a record of the inspections made under this chapter and an inventory of those dwellings that do not meet the minimum standards of fitness herein prescribed;
(4) To administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence;
(5) To enter upon premises for the purpose of making examinations and inspections; provided, entries shall be made in accordance with § 150.27 below and state law, and shall be made in a manner so as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession;
(6) To appoint and fix the duties of officers, agents and employees as he or she deems necessary to assist in carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and to delegate any of his or her functions and powers to officers, agents and employees; and
(7) To preform other duties as may be prescribed herein or by the Town Council.
(Ord. – § 12, passed 8-27-1990)
(A) (1) For the purpose of making inspections, the Inspector is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming houses, rooming units and the premises associated therewith.
(2) The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling units, rooming house or rooming unit or the person in charge thereof shall give the Inspector free access to the dwelling and its premises at all reasonable times for the purposes of inspection, examination and survey.
(B) Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit shall give the owner thereof, or his or her agent or employee, access to any part of the dwelling or dwelling unit and its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of making repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter or with any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. – § 13, passed 8-27-1990)
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