A. Rental structures used for human habitation consisting of two (2) or more separate living units (commonly called apartments) shall have installed operational smoke alarms, with not less than one such alarm installed in each sleeping room (i.e., bedroom) and other area(s) used as an overnight sleeping location and one in each hallway or passageway constituting an egress route from each such sleeping room or area.
B. All rental structures used for human habitation consisting of two (2) or more separate living units (commonly called apartments) which include living units other than those entirely at ground level, which do not have firewall separation between individual units of fire rating of at least one hour, and including all multi-unit dwelling structures which were not originally constructed as multi-unit dwellings and later converted to multi-unit dwellings (i.e., apartments) shall provide at least two (2) separate egress pathways for escape from fire from each bedroom or other area within the unit regularly used for overnight sleeping, regardless of whether the structure was constructed before the effective date of the fire code. Each such separate egress pathway for escape from fire as required by this subsection shall be wholly independent of the other escape pathway; and each such escape pathway must be qualified as an accepted means of egress under the fire code or otherwise acceptable to the fire marshal. Every bedroom or area regularly used for sleeping shall have a window opening to the exterior which qualifies as an egress window according to the fire code or alternatively is deemed adequate by the fire marshal for escape in the event other route(s) of escape would be blocked by fire, excepting that a bedroom or other room or area regularly used for overnight sleeping which does not have a window to the exterior as above specified shall have an exit door direct to the exterior of the structure which can be opened at any time from the inside without the requirement of a key; and if such an exit door is not at ground level it shall exit onto a stairway suitable for fire escape. (Ord. 2501, 10-20-2014)