No owner or operator shall let, rent, or hire to another for occupancy and dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
(A) Cooking, sleeping in same room. Where more than two persons occupy any dwelling unit, food shall not be prepared or cooked in any room used for sleeping purposes. This shall not apply to studio apartments or efficiency units.
(B) Ceiling height. At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room on the main floor, shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet. The ceiling height of any room in a top floor or attic, shall be not less than six feet six inches over not less than one-third of the floor area of any room. The city will not require units to be retrofitted to comply with these requirements. Units will comply with these requirements at the time of rehabilitation or remodeling.
(C) Cellar and/or basement. No cellar and/or basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
(1) The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness;
(2) The total of window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum window area sizes as required in § 154.05(A);
(3) Such required minimum window area is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area;
(4) Openable window area in each room is provided as required under § 154.05(B), except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Building Inspection Officer; and
(5) There are at least one means of egress directly to the outside in sleeping rooms.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2019)