CHAPTER 4
RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES

SECTION PM-401.0 GENERAL

PM-401.1 Scope: The provisions of this Chapter shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for light, ventilation, space, plumbing facilities and fixtures, mechanical facilities and equipment, and electrical facilities and equipment in residential occupancies.

PM-401.2 Responsibility: The owner of the structure shall provide and maintain light, ventilation, space, plumbing facilities and fixtures, mechanical facilities and equipment, and electrical facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit another person to occupy any premises which does not comply with the requirements of this Chapter.

SECTION PM-402.0 LIGHT

PM-402.1 Habitable spaces: Every habitable space except kitchens shall have at least one window or skylight of approved size facing directly to the outdoors.

   PM-402.1.1 Obstructions: Wherever walls or other portions of a structure face a window of any room and such obstructions are located less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area for the room.

   PM-402.1.2 Basement habitable spaces: The required window area serving habitable spaces in basements shall have a minimum outside horizontal clear space measured perpendicular to the window, equal to one and one- half times the depth of the window sill below average adjoining grade.

   PM-402.1.3 Window area: The minimum total window area of every sleeping room with 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of floor area shall be eight percent of the floor area. The minimum total window of every sleeping room with more than 100 square feet (9.29 m2) of floor area shall be eight square feet plus five percent of each square foot of floor area over 100 square feet (9.29 m2). The minimum total window area of every other habitable room for which windows are required shall be seven percent of the floor area.

   PM-402.1.4 Adjoining spaces: Where natural light for rooms or spaces without exterior window areas is provided through an adjoining room or enclosed porch, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining room shall be at least eight percent of the floor area of the interior room or space, but not less than twenty-five square feet (2.33 m2). The exterior window area shall be based on the total floor area being served.

PM-402.2 Common halls and stairways: 328 Every common hall, interior stairway and exterior stairway serving residential occupancies shall be provided with artificial light capable of providing a minimum of one foot-candle (11 lux) at floors, landings and treads. Continuous operation of the lighting system is required except during those hours when there is sufficient natural light to comply with these requirements.

Exception: Continuous operation is not required for common hall and stairway lighting serving occupancies in Group R-3 which are equipped with light switches located within three feet (914 mm) of the access and entrance doors to such common spaces.

PM-402.3 Other spaces: All other spaces shall be provided with natural or artificial light sufficient to permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions, and the safe occupancy of the space and utilization of the appliances, equipment and fixtures.

 

Notes

328	Amended, Bill No. 030774 (approved December 31, 2003). See note 235 for effective date provisions.

SECTION PM-403.0 VENTILATION

PM-403.1 Habitable spaces: Every habitable space except kitchens shall have at least one openable window or skylight. The total openable area of the window in every room shall be equal to at least 45 percent of the minimum glazed area required in Section PM-402.1.3 and 402.1.4. A window which is disqualified by Section PM-402.1.1 or PM-402.1.2 shall also be disqualified as openable area.

Exception: Mechanical ventilation which complies with the mechanical code or which provides six air changes per hour to the space and exhausts to the outside shall be accepted in lieu of openable windows.

PM-403.2 Bathrooms and toilet rooms: Every bathroom and toilet room shall comply with the ventilation requirements for habitable spaces as required by Section PM-403.1, except that a window or skylight shall not be required in spaces equipped with a mechanical ventilation system which exhausts air from a toilet room or bathroom within a dwelling or rooming unit to the exterior without recirculation to any space, including the space from which such air is withdrawn.

PM-403.3 Laundry rooms: Every laundry room shall have a minimum openable area of two square feet (0.19 m2).

Exception: Mechanical ventilation which provides six air changes per hour to the room and exhausts to the outside shall be accepted in lieu of the openable area.

PM-403.4 Clothes dryers: Clothes dryer venting systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall be vented in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

SECTION PM-404.0 SPACE AND USE

PM-404.1 Arrangement: Dwelling units, rooming units, dormitory units and hotel units shall be arranged to provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces. Units which are constructed, altered or otherwise newly established shall comply with the requirements of Sections PM-404.1.1 and PM-404.1.2.

   PM-404.1.1 Sleeping rooms: Sleeping rooms shall be arranged so that a person is not required to pass through one sleeping room to reach another.

   PM-404.1.2 Toilet facilities: Sleeping rooms shall be arranged so that each sleeping room has access to a water closet and lavatory without being required to pass through another sleeping room.

PM-404.2 Floor area: Every dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory unit and hotel unit shall comply with the minimum floor area requirements of Table PM-404.2. Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area, however, closets and halls within the dwelling unit shall be permitted to comprise a maximum of ten percent of the required minimum habitable floor area.

   PM-404.2.1 Combined spaces: Combined spaces shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of Table PM-404.2 if the total area if the combined spaces is equal to that required for separate rooms.

Table PM-404.2
OCCUPANCY AREA REQUIREMENTS

No. of Occupants	Minimum Area Requirements in Square Feet ab
	Total for Dwelling Unit	Living Room	Dining Room	Kitchen	Sleeping Room c
1	150	N/R	N/R	50	70
2	250	N/R	N/R	50	100
3	350	120	80	50	150
4	450	120	80	50	200
5	525	120	80	50	250
6	600	150	100	60	300
More than 6	600 + 75 per each add'l person	150	100	60	300 + 50 for each add'l person
Note a.   1 square foot = 0.093 m2. Note b.   For combined spaces see Section PM-404.2.1. Note c.   For prohibited sleeping spaces see Section PM-404.3.

 

PM-404.3 Sleeping prohibited: Kitchens, nonhabitable spaces and interior public areas shall not be occupied for sleeping purposes.

Exception: This provision, as it pertains to kitchens, shall not apply to single space efficiency apartment units which otherwise comply with this code.

PM-404.4 Minimum dimensions: A habitable room, other than a kitchen, shall not be less than seven feet (2133 mm) in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than three feet (914 mm) between counterfronts and appliances or counterfronts and walls.

PM-404.5 Minimum ceiling heights: Habitable spaces, hallways, corridors, laundry areas, bathrooms, toilet rooms and kitchens shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than seven feet (2134 mm).

Exceptions:

   1.   Beams or girders spaced not less than four feet (1219 mm) on center and projecting below the ceiling, provided that the minimum clear height is not less than six feet eight inches (2033 mm).

   2.   Dropped or furred ceilings over not more than one-half of the minimum floor area required by this code, provided that no part of such dropped or furred ceiling is less than six feet eight inches (2033 mm) in height.

   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 (2134 mm) 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 (1524 mm) or more shall be included.

   4.   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 (2033 mm) with not less than six feet four inches (1932 mm) of clear height under beams, girders, ducts and similar obstructions.

PM-404.6 Basements: No basement shall be used for habitable space, except kitchens, unless the floors and walls are substantially watertight and the space complies with this code in all other respects.

SECTION PM-405.0 PLUMBING FACILITIES AND FIXTURES

PM-405.1 Bathrooms and toilet rooms: Bathrooms and toilet rooms shall provide privacy to the occupant of the room and shall not be part of the only access to another space or means of egress.

   PM-405.1.1 Dwelling units: Each dwelling unit shall contain a room equipped with a water closet; lavatory and a bathtub or shower. The required bathtub or shower shall be permitted in a separate room from the water closet. The lavatory shall be placed in the same room as the water closet or located in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which the water closet is located.

   PM-405.1.2 Rooming houses, dormitories and hotels: Where private water closets, lavatories and bathtubs or showers are not provided in rooming houses, dormitories and hotels, a minimum of one water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower shall be provided with access from a common hallway for each six occupants or fraction thereof. Such facilities shall not be more than one story removed from the occupants intended to share them.

   PM-405.1.3 Every bathroom and toilet room floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

PM-405.2 Kitchens: Every dwelling shall contain a kitchen sink.

PM-405.3 Plumbing fixtures: All plumbing fixtures shall be properly installed with adequate clearances for usage and cleaning and be maintained in a safe, sanitary and functional condition, free from obstructions, leaks and defects.

   PM-405.3.1 Water supply: Every sink, lavatory, water closet, bathtub, shower or other plumbing fixture required by this code shall be properly connected to a public or approved private water supply in accordance with the plumbing code.

   PM-405.3.2 Hot water: Hot water equipment shall be provided which is capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at each required sink, lavatory, bathtub, shower and laundry facility at a temperature of not less than 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) without reliance on the space heating facilities required by this code. Water heating equipment shall be set so that the temperature of water drawn from plumbing fixtures shall not exceed 125 degrees F (52 degrees C).

      PM-405.3.2.1 Relief valve: Water heaters shall be equipped with a combination temperature and pressure relief valve and relief valve discharge pipe which is properly installed and maintained.

   PM-405.3.3 Sanitary drainage: All plumbing fixtures shall be properly connected to a public or approved private sewage disposal system in accordance with the plumbing code.