(A) Location on property. All buildings shall be located with respect to property lines and to other buildings on the same property as required by § 14.504 and Part IV of the Building Code.
(B) Yards and courts.
(1) Scope. This section shall apply to yards and courts having required windows opening therein.
(2) Yards. Every yard shall be not less than 3 feet in width for 1-story and 2-story buildings. For buildings more than 2 stories in height, the minimum width of the yard shall be increased at the rate of 1 foot for each additional story. Where yards completely surround the building, the required width may be reduced by 1 foot. For buildings exceeding 14 stories in height, the required width of yard shall be computed on the basis of 14 stories.
(3) Courts.
(a) Every court shall be not less than 3 feet in width. Courts having windows opening on opposite sides shall be not less than 6 feet in width. Courts bounded on 3 or more sides by the walls of the building shall be not less than 10 feet in length unless bounded on 1 end by a public way or yard. For buildings more than 2 stories in height, the court shall be increased 1 foot in width and 2 feet in length for each additional story. For buildings exceeding 14 stories in height, the required dimensions shall be computed on the basis of 14 stories.
(b) Adequate access shall be provided to the bottom of all courts for cleaning purposes. Every court more than 2 stories in height shall be provided with a horizontal air intake at the bottom not less than 10 square feet in area and leading to the exterior of the building unless abutting a yard or public way. The construction of air intake shall be as required for the court walls of the building, but in no case shall be less than 1-hour fire-resistive.
(C) Room dimensions.
(1) Ceiling heights. Habitable space shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches except as otherwise permitted in this section. Kitchens, halls, bathrooms, and toilet compartments may have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet measured to the lowest projection from the ceiling. Where exposed beam ceiling members are spaced at less than 48 inches on center, ceiling height shall be measured to the bottom of these members. Where exposed beam ceiling members are spaced at 48 inches or more on center, ceiling height shall be measured to the bottom of the deck supported by these members, provided that the bottom of the members is not less than 7 feet above the floor. If any room in a building has a sloping ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in only 1/2 the area thereof. No portion of the room measuring less than 5 feet from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof. If any room has a furred ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height is required in 2/3 the area thereof, but in no case shall the height of the furred ceiling be less than 7 feet.
(2) Floor area. Every dwelling unit shall have at least 1 room which shall have not less than 120 square feet of floor area. Other habitable rooms, except kitchens, shall have an area of not less than 70 square feet. Where more than 2 persons occupy a room used for sleeping purposes, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet for each occupant in excess of 2. Nothing in this division (C)(2) shall prohibit the use of an efficiency living unit within an apartment house meeting the following requirements.
(a) The unit shall have a living room of not less than 220 square feet of superficial floor area. An additional 100 square feet of superficial floor area shall be provided for each occupant of the unit in excess of 2.
(b) The unit shall be provided with a separate closet.
(c) The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance, and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this subchapter shall be provided.
(d) The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower.
(3) Width. No habitable room other than a kitchen shall be less than 7 feet in any dimension.
Each water closet stool shall be located in a clear space of not less than 30 inches in width and a clear space in front of the water closet stool of not less than 24 inches shall be provided.
(D) Light and ventilation.
(1) Natural light and ventilation.
(a) All guest rooms, dormitories, and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less than 1/10 of the floor area of the rooms with a minimum of 10 square feet. All bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundry rooms, and similar rooms shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of openable exterior openings with an area not less than 1/20 of the floor area of the rooms with a minimum of 1 and 1/2 square feet.
(b) All guest rooms, dormitories and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of openable exterior openings with an area of not less than 1/20 of the floor area of the rooms with a minimum of 5 square feet.
(2) Origin of light and ventilation.
(a) Required exterior openings for natural light and ventilation shall open directly onto a street or public alley or a yard or court, located on the same lot as the building.
(b) Required windows may open into a roofed porch where the porch:
1. Abuts a street, yard, or court;
2. Has a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet; and
3. Has the longer side of least 65% open and unobstructed.
(c) A required window in a service room may open into a vent shaft which is open and unobstructed to the sky and not less than 4 feet in least dimension. No vent shaft shall extend throughout more than 2 stories.
(d) For the purpose of determining light and ventilation requirements, any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when 1/2 of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than 1/10 of the floor area of the interior room or 25 square feet, whichever greater.
(3) Mechanical ventilation. In lieu of required exterior openings for natural ventilation, a mechanical ventilation system may be provided. The system shall be capable of providing 2 air changes per hour in all guest rooms, dormitories, habitable rooms, and in public corridors. One fifth of the air supply shall be taken from the outside. In bathrooms containing a bathtub or shower or combination thereof, laundry rooms, and similar rooms, a mechanical ventilation system shall be provided. The point of discharge of exhaust air shall be at least 5 feet from any mechanical ventilating intake. Bathrooms which contain only a water closet or lavatory or combination thereof, and similar rooms may be ventilated with unapproved mechanical recirculating fan or similar device designed to remove odors from the air.
(4) Hallways. All public hallways, stairs, and other exitways shall be adequately lighted at all times in accordance with § 3312(a) of the Building Code.
(E) Sanitation.
(1) Dwelling units and lodging houses. Every dwelling unit and every lodging house shall be provided with a bathroom equipped with facilities consisting of a water closet, lavatory, and either a bathtub or shower.
(2) Hotels. Where private water closets, lavatories, and baths are not provided, there shall be provided on each floor for each sex at least 1 water closet and lavatory and 1 bath accessible from a public hallway. Additional water closets, lavatories, and baths shall be provided on each floor for each sex at the rate of 1 for every additional 10 guests, or fractional number thereof in excess of 10. The facilities shall be clearly marked for MEN or WOMEN.
(3) Kitchen. Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen. Every kitchen shall be provided with a kitchen sink. Wooden sinks or sinks of similarly absorbent material shall not be permitted.
(4) Fixtures. All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to a sanitary sewer. All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to an approved system of water supply and provided with hot and cold running water necessary for its normal operation. All plumbing fixtures shall be of an approved glazed earthenware type or of a similarly nonabsorbent material.
(5) Water closet compartments. Walls and floors of water closet compartments, except in dwellings, shall be finished in accordance with § 214.511 of the Building Code.
(6) Room separations. Every water closet, bathtub, or shower required by this subchapter shall be installed in a room which will afford privacy to the occupant. A room in which a water closet is located shall be separated from food preparation or storage rooms by a tight fitting door.
(7) Installation and maintenance. All sanitary facilities shall be installed and maintained in safe and sanitary condition and in accordance with applicable requirements of the Plumbing Code.
(Ord. 148, passed 9-11-1989) Penalty, see § 10.99