In order to provide healthful living conditions and to preserve the character of the neighborhood, dwellings shall be erected, altered, moved, maintained or occupied only in accordance with the following standards establishing minimum areas of dwelling units.
(a) Definition of Area of a Dwelling Unit. For this purpose, the area shall be the sum of the gross floor areas above the basement level, and not more than three feet below finished grade, including those rooms (and closets) having a minimum ceiling height of seven feet, six inches and having the natural light and ventilation as required by the Building Code. Rooms above the first floor may be included if they are directly connected by a permanent stairs and hall, and spaces under pitched roofs having a minimum knee wall height of seven feet, six inches, may also be included.
The area for frame buildings shall be measured from the exterior face of the enclosing walls at the respective floor line. For brick veneer buildings, no more than four inches of exterior wall thickness may be included in the area calculation. For two-family and multifamily dwellings, where applicable, measurements will be made to the centerline of party walls. All areas within garages and porches, public halls and general storage rooms in multifamily dwellings shall be excluded in this measurement.
(b) Minimum Area of a Dwelling Unit. The minimum area of a dwelling unit shall be as established in the following schedule:
Dwelling Unit Area Requirements
Dwelling Type 1 Story (sq. ft.) 1-1/2 Story (sq. ft.) 2 Story (sq. ft.)
With Without With Without With Without
Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt.
Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt. Bsmt.
R1-A Classification
One-family dwelling*
One-family dwelling*
Ground floor 1250 1400 1100 1200 850 950
Total floor area 1250 1400 1250 1400 1700 1900
R1-B Classification
One-family dwelling*
One-family dwelling*
Ground floor 1250 1400 1100 1200 850 950
Total floor area 1250 1400 1250 1400 1700 1900
One-family dwelling Bi-level Tri-level split level
Ground floor area 950
Total floor area 1900 1600
Two-family dwelling
Ground floor area 1050 1150 ---- ---- 750 850
(each unit)
(each unit)
Total floor area 2100 2300 ---- ---- 1350 1450
(per bldg.) (per bldg.) (each unit) (each unit)
Townhouse (ea. unit)*
Ground floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 660 760
Ground floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 660 760
Total floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 1320 1420
Plex (each unit)*
Ground floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 660 760
Ground floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 660 760
Total floor area 1100 1200 ---- ---- 1320 1420
Apartment Minimum Area Per Apartment Unit (sq. ft.)**
Efficiency 500
1 bedroom unit 650
2 bedroom unit 850
*Area exclusive of all circulation space.
**Maximum of three bedrooms; for each additional bedroom unit 150 square feet of additional area must be provided.
(c) Apartment Developments. Not more than twenty-five percent of the total number of apartment units within any apartment development or apartment development area within a group development or planned unit development shall be units with three or more bedrooms.
(d) Area of Garage. Private garages required for each one and two-family, plex and townhouse dwelling unit shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
Area of Private Garage Area Per Unit (sq. ft.)*
Dwelling Type Minimum Maximum
Two-family dwelling 240 400
Townhouse 240 400
Plex 240 400
*Area exclusive of all circulation space.
(Ord. 89-210. Passed 2-6-90; Ord. 91-249. Passed 11-6-91; Ord. 22-67. Passed 5-4-22.)