(a) Compliance Required. No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living there which does not comply with the following requirements.
(b) Window, Skylight Area. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured as areas of clear glass for every habitable room, shall be ten percent (10%) of the floor area of such room. The window area shall face a street, yard or other open space that meets the requirements of the Zoning Code. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight type window in the top of such room, the total area of such skylight shall equal at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total floor area of such room.
(c) Openable Windows, Skylight; Ventilating Device. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can open easily, or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least forty percent (40%) of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type window size as required in subsection (b) hereof, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation which is approved by the Housing Director.
(d) Bathroom and Water Closet Ventilations; Light Requirements. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in subsections (b), (c), except that no window or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated and lighted bathrooms and water closet compartments equipped with a ventilation system which is kept in continuous operation and is approved by the Housing Director.
(e) Alcove Opening. Any alcove opening off a habitable room may be included as part of that room in determining the window area requirements if eighty percent (80%) or more of the common wall area provides an unobstructed opening in the alcove.
(f) Heating Requirements. Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition to furnish heat when necessary and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least seventy degrees Fahrenheit at a distance three feet above floor level under ordinary minimum winter conditions.
(g) Lighting of Public Halls, Stairways. Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling containing five or more dwelling units shall be adequately lighted at all times. Every public hall and stairway in structures devoted solely to the dwelling occupancy and containing not more than four dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches, controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed instead of full time lighting.
(h) Prevention of Rodent Entrance. 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 supplied with a screen or other such device approved by the Housing Director, that will effectively prevent their entrance.
(i) Windows, Doors To Be Screened; Doors Self-Closing. During that portion of each year when it is deemed necessary for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to all door spaces shall be supplied with screens and a self-closing device. Every window or other device with openings to outdoor spaces used or intended to be used for ventilation shall likewise be supplied with screens.
(Ord. 41-1989. Passed 3-20-89.)
(j) Minimum Residential Rewire Electrical Code. The following wiring requirements shall serve as the minimum standard for electrical wiring systems for existing one, two and three family dwelling units when an inspection is requested, wiring is to be done or for existing wiring in place. Any portion of the dwelling unit that is being remodeled or structurally repaired shall be installed to current National Electrical Code (NEC) standards. The electrical system shall be supplied only by the local public electric utility.
(Ord. 44-2011. Passed 4-18-11.)
It shall be understood that this "Minimum Residential Rewire Electrical Code" shall coexist with the National Electrical Code (NEC) in so far as wiring methods are concerned. Should any conflict, misunderstanding, or disagreement result from this coexistence, the National Electrical Code (NEC) shall be the controlling side.
(1) Service entrance equipment.
A. Where a 15-30 ampere (2 wire) service exists in a dwelling a one hundred (100) ampere (3 wire) service shall be installed.
B. If the existing service is sixty (60) ampere (3 wire) and is installed in accordance to article 230-42, it may remain.
(2) Installation method. All electric equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.
(3) Outlets. General rule: Each habitable room shall contain at least two receptacle outlets located on opposite walls or as otherwise permitted by the local inspection authority, but in no case shall more outlets than required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) be required. Each living room shall have four duplex receptacles to supply loads used therein unless a specific exemption is granted. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles in bathroom shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(4) New outlets. All new receptacle outlets installed on new wiring shall be of the grounding type.
(5) Existing outlets. Existing electrical outlets which are installed in a workmanlike manner, with approved materials, and with proper circuitry need not be changed. Existing nongrounding outlets may be replaced with new nongrounding devices, or ground-fault circuit-interrupter-type of receptacle shall be used.
(6) Lighting.
A. When lighting fixtures are replaced on original wiring, boxes or loompans shall be installed.
B. Existing or replacement non-metallic fixtures need not be grounded if connected to original wiring.
C. The following habitable rooms and areas shall contain at least one wall switch-controlled lighting outlet:
Kitchen Stairway
Bathroom Hallway
Dining Room Exterior entrances
Bedroom
Living Room
D. The following areas may contain pull chain type lighting fixtures:
Storage Room Attic Area
Furnace Room Utility Room
Laundry Room Basement
(7) Small appliance branch circuits. All kitchens shall have at least three grounding type duplex receptacles, on no less than two 20 ampere circuits. One circuit shall supply power for at least one counter top receptacle. Fixed appliances shall be circuited accordingly, and properly grounded. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles within six feet of a kitchen sink to serve counter top surfaces shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(8) Laundry branch circuit. All single family dwelling units shall have a separate 20 ampere grounded circuit for a laundry receptacle(s), where laundry facilities exist.
(9) Furnace branch circuit. Central heating equipment shall be supplied by an individual branch circuit. Auxiliary equipment such as a pump, valve, humidifier, or electrostatic air cleaner directly associated with the heating equipment shall be permitted to be connected to the same branch circuit.
(10) Knob and tube wiring. All original knob and tube branch circuit wiring shall be reconnected on fifteen ampere circuits, and any tampered wire shall have its original insulation integrity replaced.
(11) Fuse. If Edison-Base fuse holders are used they shall be fitted with type "S" fuse adapters and fuse stats.
(12) Outbuildings. Attached and unattached buildings (with wiring) on the same premises shall meet the requirements of the National Electrical Code. If inoperative, the existing wiring shall be removed in accordance with the National Electric Code (NEC).
(Ord. 35-1994. Passed 3-21-94.)
(13) Smoke alarms. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
A. In each sleeping room.
B. Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
C. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72.
(Ord. 44-2011. Passed 4-18-11.)