Every dwelling unit shall have not less than 250 square feet of habitable floor area and shall contain at least one room which shall have not less than 150 square feet of habitable floor area and which is not less than ten feet in width; provided further than no room used to compute compliance with such 250 square foot minimum limitation shall be less than seven feet in width nor have less than seventy square feet of habitable floor area.
(a) Ceiling Height. The ceiling height of any habitable room (a room used to comply with the 250 square feet minimum size limitation) shall be at least seven feet six inches except that in any habitable room under sloping ceiling at least one half of the floor area shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet six inches.
(b) Area for Sleeping Purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain a least seventy square feet of floor area; and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least fifty square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof.
(c) Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted by the minimum occupancy area requirements of Table I.
TABLE I
Minimum Occupancy Area Requirements
Space | Minimum Occupancy Area in Square Feet | ||
1-2 Occupants | 3-5 Occupants | 6 Occupants or More | |
Living Room* | No requirements | 120 | 150 |
Dining Room* | No requirements | 80 | 100 |
Kitchen | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Bedrooms | Shall comply with subsection (b) hereof. | ||
*Note--See subsection (d) hereof for combined living/dining room spaces.
(d) Combined Spaces. Combined living room and dining room spaces shall comply with the requirements of Table I if the total area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if space is located so as to function as a combination living/dining room.
(e) Basements and Cellars. No basement or cellar space shall be used as habitable rooms or dwelling units unless all of the following apply:
(1) The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface run-off water and are insulated against dampness;
(2) The required minimum area is located entirely above grade of the ground adjoining such window area;
(3) The basement or cellar space, when occupied for living, meets all the minimum standards and requirements of this Code;
(4) Furnace and domestic hot water facilities are to be completely separated from the habitable areas by the installation of fire materials in an approved manner;
(5) The basement or cellar space shall have a minimum of two emergency exits approved by the Property Maintenance Officer.
(f) Bathroom Access. No dwelling or dwelling unit containing two or more sleeping rooms shall have such room arrangements that there is access to a bathroom or water closet compartment intended for use by going through another sleeping room; nor shall room arrangements be such that access to a sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room. A bathroom or water closet compartment shall not be used as the only passageway to any habitable room, hall, basement or to the exterior of the dwelling unit.
(g) Closets. Every dwelling shall have adequate closet space for the personal effects of the occupants.
(Ord. 19-56. Passed 1-6-20.)