No owner or operator shall let, rent, or hire to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements.
(A) Windows. Every sleeping room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be one window of at least five and seven-tenths square feet. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least 15% of the total floor area of such room. Every window and frame shall be kept in sound condition, good repair, and weather-tight. The city will not require apartment units, houses, and the like, to be retrofitted to meet the minimum window square footage or total floor area requirement. These two requirements will be met when the unit, building, house, and the like, is to be rehabilitated to a cost greater than 50% of the current value.
(B) Ventilation. Every sleeping room shall have at least one window or skylight which can be easily opened for adequate ventilation, except where there is supplied some other device or method affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Building Inspection Officer.
(C) Bathroom lights and ventilation. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in divisions (A) and (B) above, except that no window or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closet compartments equipped with an operational ventilation system approved by the Building Inspection Officer.
(D) Heating facilities. Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and inspection tagged if required by law, are maintained in safe and working condition such that they are capable of safely heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least 68°F (20°C).
(E) Electrical outlets. Every room shall contain at least two electrical convenience outlets or one such convenience outlet and one lighting fixture. Additional convenience outlets shall be provided such that each electrical device and appliance located within each room can be plugged in and operated. Cords to appliances and devices shall not be run through doorways, under rugs, or stapled to wood baseboards, door casings, or through holes in partitions or floors. All installations and repairs of electrical outlets are to be made in a manner that conforms to the Electrical Codes in force in the county at the time of inspection. Dwellings and dwelling units already in existence will not have to be retrofitted to meet the outlet amount requirement.
(F) Lighting public halls and stairways. Every public hall and stairway in every dwelling containing four or more dwelling units shall be adequately lighted at all times. Adequate lighting for public halls consists of one constantly shining electrical lighting fixture for every 100 feet of hall length. Adequate lighting for stairways consists of a proper number of constantly shining electrical lighting fixtures to enable each riser and landing to be visible. Every public hall and stairway in structures of four or more dwelling units shall have emergency lighting and exit signs.
(G) Screens, basement or cellar windows. 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 such other device as will effectively prevent their entrance.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2019) Penalty, see § 10.99