(A) Privacy. Dwelling units, hotel units, housekeeping units, rooming units and dormitory units shall be arranged to provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces.
(B) Minimum room widths. A habitable room, other than a kitchen, shall not be less than seven feet in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than three feet between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.
(C) Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable spaces, hallways, corridors, laundry areas, bathrooms, toilet rooms and habitable basement areas shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than seven feet. Exceptions include the following.
(1) In one- and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced not less than four feet on center and projecting not more than six inches below the required ceiling height.
(2) Basement rooms in one- and two-family dwellings occupied exclusively for laundry, study or recreation purposes, having a ceiling height of not less than six feet eight inches with not less than six feet four inches of clear height under beams, girders, ducts and similar obstructions.
(3) Rooms occupied exclusively for sleeping, study or similar purposes and having a sloped ceiling over all or part of the room, with a clear ceiling height of at least seven feet over not less than one-third of the required minimum floor area. In calculating the floor area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area with a clear ceiling height of five feet or more shall be included.
(D) Bedroom requirements. Every bedroom shall comply with the requirements of divisions (D)(1) through (D)(5) below.
(1) Area for sleeping purposes. Every bedroom occupied by one person shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every bedroom occupied by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof.
(2) Access from bedrooms. Bedrooms shall not constitute the only means of access to other bedrooms or habitable spaces and shall not serve as the only means of egress from other habitable spaces. Exception: units that contain fewer than two bedrooms.
(3) Water closet accessibility. Every bedroom shall have access to at least one water closet and one lavatory without passing through another bedroom. Every bedroom in a dwelling unit shall have access to at least one water closet and lavatory located in the same story as the bedroom or an adjacent story.
(4) Prohibited occupancy. Kitchens and nonhabitable spaces shall not be used for sleeping purposes.
(5) Other requirements. Bedrooms shall comply with the applicable provisions of this subchapter, including, but not limited to, the light, ventilation, room area, ceiling height and room width requirements of this chapter; the plumbing facilities and water-heating facilities requirements of §§ 154.075 to 154.081; the heating facilities and electrical receptacle requirements of §§ 154.095 to 154.101; and the smoke detector and emergency escape requirements of §§ 154.115 to 154.118.
(E) Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted by the minimum area requirements of the table below.
Minimum Area Requirements (in square feet) | |||
Space | 1-2 Occupants | 3-5 Occupants | 6 or More Occupants |
Living room a, b | No requirements | 120 | 150 |
Dining room a, b | No requirements | 80 | 100 |
Bedrooms | Shall comply with division (D) above | ||
(1) Sleeping area. The minimum occupancy area required by the table above shall not be included as a sleeping area in determining the minimum occupancy area for sleeping purposes. All sleeping areas shall comply with division (D) above.
(2) Combined spaces. Combined living room and dining room spaces shall comply with the requirements of the table above if the total area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if the space is located so as to function as a combination living room/dining room.
(F) Efficiency unit. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an efficiency living unit from meeting the following requirements.
(1) A unit occupied by not more than two occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than 220 square feet. A unit occupied by three occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than 320 square feet. These required areas shall be exclusive of the areas required by the following divisions (F)(2) and (F)(3) below.
(2) The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this subchapter shall be provided.
(3) The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.
(4) The maximum number of occupants shall be three.
(G) Food preparation.
(1) All spaces to be occupied for food preparation purposes shall contain suitable space and equipment to store, prepare and serve foods in a sanitary manner.
(2) There shall be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food wastes and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage.
(Ord. 09-05, passed 5-19-2009)