No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements.
(A) Every habitable room in a dwelling or dwelling unit shall contain a window or windows or a door opening directly to the outside air. The total area of the window, windows or door shall not be less than 10% of the floor area of the room.
(B) Every bathroom and every water closet compartment shall have a window or skylight facing directly to the outside, having a total window area of no less than 10% of the floor area, and providing an openable area of 5% of the floor area; except where there is supplied some other device affording equivalent mechanical ventilation vented to the outside atmosphere, which is acceptable to the Health Officer.
(C) All window sash shall be glazed and provided with suitable hardware and shall open to the extent of not less than 5% of the floor area of the room affording adequate ventilation and approved. This requirement may be waived in dwelling units which are so designed and equipped as to be dependent upon mechanical ventilation, heating and cooling, except in a bedroom.
(D) Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be weather-proofed and capable of being adequately and safely heated. The heating equipment in every dwelling or dwelling unit shall be properly vented and shall be maintained in good order and repair by the occupant unless the rental agreement provides otherwise. The heating equipment shall be capable of maintaining the unit at 70°F.
(E) Every habitable room and nonhabitable room in a dwelling or dwelling unit shall be furnished with electric power, and shall be wired in accordance with the National Electric Code in place at the time of construction.
(F) Every public hallway and stairway shall be provided with a safe and adequate type of artificial light controlled by convenient switches. Where the public hallways and stairways of a dwelling or dwelling unit are not provided with windows opening directly to the outside air, the owner shall keep a proper light burning in the hallway near the stairways, upon each floor, from sunrise to sunset. The owner shall keep a proper light burning in the public hallways and stairways of every dwelling and dwelling unit near the stairs, upon the ground floor, every night from sunset to sunrise throughout the year and upon all other floors and stair halls from sunset till 10:00 p.m.
(G) At the beginning of an occupancy, every dwelling unit shall be provided with suitable screens for protection against insects at every window.
(H) The basement of every dwelling shall be dry and ventilated, and shall be kept free from rubbish and garbage accumulation and rodent and insect infestation.
(I) No room in any basement shall be occupied as a habitable room unless:
(1) The clear inner height is at least seven feet; and
(2) The floors and walls are water-proof and damp-proof in accordance with accepted building methods and standards.
(J) Every basement habitable room must, in all cases, comply with all of the minimum standards set out in this subchapter.
(K) No cellar space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling and shall be kept free of accumulated garbage and rubbish and rodent and insect infestation.
(Ord. G-69-352, passed 3-7-1969; Ord. G-16-10, passed 10-3-2016)