All of the provisions of this subchapter, and all of the minimum standard requirements of this subchapter, shall be applicable to rooming houses and dwelling units, and to every person who operates a rooming house, or who occupies or lets to another for occupancy any rooming unit, rooming house or any dwelling unit, except as provided in this section.
(A) Rooming house. All rooming houses must comply with the following requirements.
(1) Water closets, hand lavatory and bath facilities. At least one 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 four rooms within a rooming house wherever said facilities are shared. All such 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 one story removed from any of the persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water at all times. Such required facilities shall not be located in the cellar.
(2) Sanitary conditions. The owner or 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 building; and 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.
(3) Sanitary facilities. Every water closet, flush urinal, lavatory, basin and bathtub or shower required by division (A)(1) above shall be located within the rooming house and, within a room or rooms, afford privacy and are separate from the habitable rooms, and which are accessible for a common hall and without going outside the rooming house or through any other room therein.
(4) Safety. To assure the safety of all occupants of a rooming house, the following standards must be met.
(a) The bathroom and kitchen must have at least one receptacle accessible to the countertop and lavatory without the use of a drop cord or other device, and must be installed to meet the criteria of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) type receptacle.
(b) Smoke detectors must be provided in every rooming unit, kitchen, hallway and on every level.
(c) All doors leading to individual rooming units must be provided with a secure locking mechanism and door handle. No padlocks or hasps allowed.
(d) No cooking appliances, except microwaves, can be located within the rooming units.
(e) No portable heating appliances (fuel or electric) shall be allowed in any area of the rooming house.
(f) All cord and plug appliances, whether provided by the owner or occupant, must be installed in a safe and secure manner and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(g) All points of ingress/egress and hallways must be lighted automatically upon diminished natural light.
(h) All rooming houses must be in compliance with all applicable city ordinances to receive a certificate of occupancy.
(5) Cooking and eating facilities. All rooming houses must be supplied with the following facilities for cooking and eating.
(a) At least one room not less than 120 square feet shall be located in every rooming house to be used for cooking and eating.
(b) All facilities for cooking and eating shall be located within the residence building served and shall be directly accessible from an interior common hall or passageway, and shall not be more than one story removed from any of the persons sharing such facilities.
(c) At least one kitchen sink shall be supplied with hot and cold water at all times. A cook stove and oven of the built-in type shall be provided and maintained in good working condition at all times, and the unit must be hardwired into the electrical/gas system.
(d) All connections to kitchen sink, oven and cook top must be in conformance with the state’s Building Code and § 151.48.
(e) Counter tops must be provided, not less than 24 inches by 48 inches, in the kitchen area.
(f) The floor covering in all rooms provided for cooking and eating shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and permit such to be easily kept clean and sanitary.
(B) Dwelling unit. All dwelling units must comply with the following requirements.
(1) All dwelling units must comply with the minimum standards set forth in § 151.48.
(2) All dwelling units must complete site plan approval through the Code Enforcement Division, and if applicable, the Zoning Divison, and receive proper permits from the Inspections Division.
(3) Site plan must contain room sizes and layout, location of bathroom, eating and cooking areas, sleeping areas, ingress/egress locations and all interior measurements.
(4) Rooms must conform to the minimum room sizes, and the total size of the unit must not be less than 240 square feet of interior space.
(5) Kitchen sink must be either a single or double compartment sink and cannot be a lavatory.
(6) Countertops must be provided in the kitchen area and cannot be less than 24 inches by 48 inches.
(7) Ground fault receptacles are required at the kitchen countertop and at the bathroom lavatory space. A receptacle is required in the kitchen area for the use of a refrigerator without the use of a drop cord.
(8) The floor covering in all rooms provided for cooking and eating shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and permit such to be easily kept clean and sanitary.
(9) A cook stove shall be provided and maintained in good working condition at all times and must be hard-wired into the electrical systems for the structure.
(Code 2019, § 9-40) Penalty, see § 151.99