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The purpose of the PMC is to protect, preserve, and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the people of the City; to prevent property conditions that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the life, safety, general welfare, and health, including the physical, mental, and social well-being of persons occupying dwellings or other structures within the City; to provide minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities for light, ventilation, and thermal conditions, for safety from fire, for the use and location and amount of space for human occupancy and for an adequate level of maintenance; to preserve the value of land and buildings throughout the City; reduce or eliminate the effects of blight, and to provide for the administration and enforcement thereof. (Amended, Ord. No. 03- 06; 14-02)
The PMC is to be enforced exclusively for the purpose of promoting public, as opposed to private, welfare. Except as may be specifically provided herein or incidental to the enforcement hereof, the PMC is not intended to interfere with personal privacy or with private legal rights and liabilities, including without limitation landlord/tenant and lessor/lessee relationships. In enacting and enforcing the PMC, the City neither expressly nor by implication assumes any obligations or liabilities respecting such private rights or disputes, including those which involve or arise out of the non-conformity of any premises in the City to the provisions of the PMC. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 10-13; Ord. No. 14-02)
A building and its premises used in whole or in part as a residence or as an accessory structure thereof, for a single family or person, and every building used in whole or in part as a residence for two or more persons or families living in separate units, except rest homes, convalescent homes, nursing homes, boarding houses, hotels, and motels, and a building and its premises used in whole or in part for assembly, commercial or office uses must conform to the requirements of the PMC, irrespective of when such building may have been or may be constructed, altered, or repaired. Every residential rental dwelling and its premises shall be inspected on a regular basis as a requirement for licensing. Enforcement action, under the PMC, against owner occupied dwellings, buildings with assembly, commercial or office uses is limited to violations of subsections 425.13, 425.15, and 425.33. This limit does not apply to rental dwellings, rented portions of dwellings or their common areas, including utility areas. These rental dwellings, portions of dwellings and common areas, including utility areas, shall comply with chapter 425 in its entirety and shall be licensed and inspected for compliance with the PMC. Condominium and cooperative housing public areas shall be subject to inspection and licensing if one or more dwellings in such a building is a rental dwelling. The PMC establishes minimum standards for erected dwelling units, accessory structures, and related premises. (Amended, Ord. No. 03- 06; 14-02)
Subdivision 1. For purposes of the PMC, the terms defined in this subsection have the meanings given them. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 2. Accessory building or use means a subordinate building or subordinate use which is located on the same premises on which the main building or use is situated and which is incidental to the conduct of the primary use of such building or main use.
Subd. 3. Basement means that level of a building where the vertical distance from average grade to the floor below is more than the vertical distance from average grade to the floor next above.
Subd.4. Blighted means more than 50 percent of the building ore related premises is structurally substandard. (Added, Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 5. Boarding house means a building or structure or enclosure, or any part thereof, used as, maintained as, or advertised as, or held out to be an enclosure where meals or lunches are furnished to five or more regular boarders, whether with or without sleeping accommodations, for periods of one week or more.
Subd. 6. Building means a structure erected for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattel, or movable property of any kind.
Subd. 7. Common areas means halls, corridors, passageways, utility rooms, recreational rooms and extensively landscaped areas in or adjacent to a multiple dwelling or building, not under the exclusive control of one person or family. (Amended, Ord. No. 10-13; 14-02)
Subd. 8. Condominium means a form of individual ownership within a multifamily building which entails joint responsibility for maintenance and repairs; in the condominium each apartment or townhouse is owned outright by its occupant.
Subd. 9. Cooperative housing means a multiple family dwelling owned and maintained by the residents: the entire structure and real property is under common ownership as contrasted to a condominium dwelling where individual units are under separate individual occupant ownership.
Subd. 10. Dwelling means a building, or portion thereof, designed or used for residential occupancy, including one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multiple-family dwellings. Whenever the word "dwelling" is used in the PMC, it shall be construed as though it was followed by the words "or any part thereof." (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 11. Dwelling, single-family means a dwelling designed exclusively for occupancy by one family. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 12. Dwelling, two-family means a dwelling designed exclusively for occupancy by two families living independently of each other.
Subd. 13. Dwelling, multiple family means a dwelling or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units.
Subd. 14. Dwelling units means a room or rooms connected together, constituting a separate, independent housekeeping unit for owner occupancy, or rental or lease on a weekly, monthly or longer basis, and physically separated from any other rooms or dwelling units which may be in the same structure, and containing independent cooking, toilet and sleeping facilities. Whenever the term "dwelling unit" is used in the PMC, it is to be construed as though it was followed by the words "or any part thereof." (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 15. Enforcement officer means a person designated by the City Manager to administer and enforce the PMC. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 16. Excessive calls means four or more substantiated nuisance conduct service calls occurring within any 365-day period. (Added, Ord. No. 10-13; Amended, No. Ord. 21-12)
Subd. 17. Exit means a continuous and unobstructed means of egress to the outdoors and includes intervening doors, doorways, corridors, ramps, stairways, smokeproof enclosures, horizontal exists, exit passageways, exit courts and yards.
Subd. 18. Family means one or more persons each related to the other by blood, marriage, or adoption, or a group of not more than four persons not all so related maintaining a common household in a dwelling unit and using common cooking and kitchen facilities.
Subd. 19. Floor area, gross means the sum of the gross horizontal area of the several floors of a structure or structures measured from the exterior faces and exterior walls or from the center line of common walls separating dwelling units and other building types. Basements devoted to storage and off-street parking or either of them are not included. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 20. Flush water closet means a toilet bowl flushed with water under pressure with a water sealed trap above the floor level.
Subd. 21. Garbage means putrescible animal and/or vegetable wastes, including those resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food. (Amended, Ord. No. 10-13)
Subd. 22. Group homes means any group quarter or other residential facility that is licensed by any governmental agency or as determined by the City of Robbinsdale. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06).
Subd. 23. Habitable room means a room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, but excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, utility rooms, foyers, corridors, stairways, closets, storage spaces, workshops, hobby and recreation areas, and basements lacking required ventilation, required electrical outlets, or required exit facilities.
Subd. 24. Hotel or motel means a building or structure or enclosure, or any part thereof, kept, used as, maintained as, or advertised as, or held out to the public to be an enclosure where sleeping accommodations are furnished to the public and furnishing accommodations for periods of less than one week: the term includes any facility licensed as a hotel or motel by Hennepin County.
Subd. 25. Kitchen means a space used or intended to be used for food preparation, which contains a sink, adequate space for installing cooking and refrigeration equipment, and space for the storage of cooking utensils.
Subd. 26. Nuisance means:
(a) A public nuisance known as such under common law or in equity or recognized by Minnesota Statutes or the City code.
(b) A public nuisance which may prove detrimental to children whether in a building, on the premises of a building, or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes, but is not limited to, any abandoned wells, shafts, basements, or excavations; abandoned refrigerators in a hazardous condition; unlicensed or inoperable motor vehicles; or any structurally unsound fences or structures; or any lumber, garbage, rubbish, fences or debris which may become a hazard for inquisitive minors.
(c) Overcrowding a room or dwelling with occupants. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
(d) Insufficient ventilation or illumination.
(e) Inadequate or unsanitary sewage or plumbing facilities.
(f) Uncleanliness.
(g) Any situation or activity which renders air, food, or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings.
(h) Any other activity or situation that is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health.
(i) Overcrowding a room or portion of dwelling with long-term storage so as to prevent upkeep, maintenance or regular housekeeping. A room may be considered overcrowded when storage covers an excessive amount of the floor area of a room, constitutes a potential excessive fire load, prevents access to windows or doors, prevents access to or obstructs mechanical systems or air movement, effectively eliminates use and access to required electrical devices, impedes access and movement of emergency personnel, blocks hallways, limits the operation of doors or provides potential pest harborage. (Added, Ord. No. 03-06)
(j) An illegal occupancy by a person of any residential, or non-residential structure, building, or premises, or portion thereof, that is not in compliance with all applicable building codes, fire codes, local laws and ordinances. (Added, Ord. No. 16-07).
(k) Discharge onto a public right-of-way, sidewalk or alley from a sump pump or drain tile which can result in hazardous ice conditions, standing water that could create a possible insect breeding area and or erosion that would degrade a public right-of-way. (Added, Ord. No. 16-15).
Subd. 27. Nuisance conduct shall have the meaning given in section 927 of the code to the extent the call involves police services. (Added, Ord. No. 10-13; Amended, Ord. No. 21-12)
Subd. 28. Occupant means a person (including owner or operator) living, sleeping, cooking, eating or working in a building. (Amended, Ord. 14-02)
Subd. 29 . Openable area means that part of a window or door which is available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the outdoors.
Subd. 30. Operator means the owner or owner's agent who has charge, care, control, or management of a building, or part thereof, including but not limited to those buildings in which dwelling units or rooming units are let or offered for occupancy. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 31. Owner or owner of record means the fee owner of the building, dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit, and includes vendees under a recorded contract for deed. For purposes of this section the term includes any agent of owner designated in writing by owner for such purposes. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; 10-13; 14-02)
Subd. 32. Owner-occupied dwelling means a dwelling unit occupied by the property owner, including for purposes of the PMC, a single-family dwelling or the discrete portion of any two-family or multi-family dwelling where the owner resides in one dwelling unit. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 33. Paint blistered means a surface area where paint is cracked, flaked, chipped, or loose.
Subd. 34. Plumbing means the following supplied facilities and equipment in a dwelling: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, steam pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, and any other similar fixtures and the installation thereof, together with all connections to water, sewer, or gas lines.
Subd. 35. Premises means platted lot(s) or unplatted parcel(s) of land, or any portion thereof, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure, including such building, accessory structure, or other structure thereon.
Subd. 36. Proper connection to an approved sewer system means a functioning sewer connection free from defects, leaks, illegal modifications or obstructions with sufficient capacity to drain all fixtures or appliances which feed into it. The sewer system (be it municipal or private) must be capable of disposing of sewage in a safe, legal, sanitary, and adequate manner. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 37. Proper connection to an approved water system means a functioning plumbing connection free from defects, leaks, or obstructions providing an uncontaminated, controlled flow of water.
Subd. 38. Public areas means those areas which are normally open to the general public or the occupants of more than one dwelling unit of a multiple family dwelling.
Subd. 39. Public hall means a corridor, or passageway for providing egress from a commercial, office, or dwelling unit to the outdoors and not within the exclusive control of one business or family. (Amended, Ord. 14-02)
Subd. 40. Refuse means putrescible and nonputrescible waste solids including garbage and rubbish.
Subd. 41. Rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit means any dwelling unit not occupied by the owner of record regardless of familial relationship or whether rent or other compensation is paid to the owner. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 10-13)
Subd. 42. Retaining wall means a wall or structure constructed of stone, concrete, wood, or other materials, used to retain soil, as a slope transition, or edge of a planting area.
Subd. 43. Rodent harborage means a place where rodents are liable to live, nest, or seek shelter.
Subd. 44. Rodent-proof means a condition where a structure and all parts thereof are protected from rodent, insect and vermin infestation by eliminating ingress and egress openings such as cracks in walls and holes in screens. For the purpose of the PMC the term "rodent-proof" shall be construed as though it included "insectproof" and "vermin-proof." (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No 14-02)
Subd. 45. Rooming unit means a room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking and eating purposes.
Subd. 46. Rubbish means nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, cardboard, tin cans, grass and shrubbery clippings, wood, glass, brick, plaster, bedding, crockery, and similar materials.
Subd. 47. Story means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above or the ceiling or roof next above such floor. A basement shall not be counted as a story.
Subd. 48. Structurally substandard means a building
(1) that was inspected by the applicable governing body and cited for one or more housing, maintenance, or building code violations involving one or more of the following:
(a) a roof and roof framing element;
(b) support walls, beams and headers;
(c) foundation, footings and subgrade conditions;
(d) lights and ventilation;
(e) fire protection, including egress;
(f) internal utilities including electricity, gas and water;
(g) flooring and flooring elements; or
(h) walls, insulation and exterior envelope; and
(2) where such housing, maintenance or building code violation(s) have not been corrected after two notices to correct the violation(s) and the cot to correct the violation(s) exceeds 50 percent of the estimated market value of the building, excluding land value as determined under Minnesota Statutes, Section 273.11 for property taxes payable in that year. (Added, Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 49. Structure means anything erected, the use on which requires more or less permanent location of the ground; or attached to something having a permanent location on the ground. Whenever the word "structure" is used in the PMC, it shall be construed as though it was followed by the words "or any part thereof." (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 10-13; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 50. Tenant means any individual named as such in any lease, or in non-lease situations, any individual obligated to owner for the payment of rent. If there is no lease, and no rent is payable, the term means all occupants of the rental dwelling. (Added, Ord. No. 10-13)
Subd. 51. Townhome means a single family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and with open space on at least two sides. (Added, Ord. No. 08-08)
Subd. 52. Use means the purpose or activity for which the land or building is designated, or intended, or for which it is occupied, utilized, or maintained, including the performance of such activity as defined by the performance standards of this chapter.
Subd. 53. Ventilation means the process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space.
Subd. 54. Waste system means that part of the plumbing system which drains waste water from individual fixtures to the sewer system.
Subd. 55. Yard means all ground, lawn, court, walk, driveway, or other open space constituting part of the same premises.
Subdivision 1. Responsibilities of owners.
The owner of a building is responsible for the maintenance of that structure and for meeting the provisions of the PMC. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; 14-02)
(a) No transfer of responsibility.
A contract between owner and operator, or owner and occupant, with regard to compliance with the PMC, does not relieve the owner, operator or occupant of any duty imposed by the PMC. (Added, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. 14-02)
Subd. 2. Responsibilities of occupants and owners.
(a) An owner, agent or occupant of a building may not allow the accumulation of dirt or filth on the premises occupied or controlled in a manner that could create a health hazard to the dwelling occupants or the general public. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
(b) An owner, agent or occupant of a building may not allow the accumulation of rubbish or garbage on the premises occupied or controlled in a manner that could create a health hazard to the dwelling occupants or the general public. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
(c) Rodent harborages in occupied areas. An owner, occupant or agent may not allow formation of rodent harborages in or about the premises occupied or controlled. (Amended, Ord. No. 10-13)
(d) The occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit is responsible for the extermination of rodents, insects or vermin on the premises. Every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit is responsible for such extermination whenever the dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding, however, whenever infestation is caused by the failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a reasonable rodent-proof condition, extermination is the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination thereof is the responsibility of the owner.
(e) An owner, agent or occupant of any building may not allow the formation or presence of any nuisance in or about the premises. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
(f) Leasing, subleasing or subletting a residential, or non-residential structure, building, or premises or portion thereof, by an occupant to another occupant or third party is prohibited. (Amended, Ord. No. 16-07)
Subdivision 1. Exterior standards.
The foundation, exterior walls, and exterior roof shall be water tight, rodent-proof, and kept in sound condition and repair. Every window, exterior door, and hatchway shall be substantially tight and kept in sound condition and repair. The foundation must adequately support the building at all points. Exterior walls shall be maintained and kept free from decay, dilapidation by cracks, tears or breaks and from deteriorated plaster, stucco, brick, wood or other material that is extensive and gives evidence of long neglect. The protective surface on exterior walls of a building above ground level must be maintained in good repair so as to provide a sufficient covering and protection of the structural surface underneath against its deterioration. Without limiting the generality of this section, a protective surface of a building shall also be deemed to be out of repair if: (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
(a) The protective surface is paint which is blistered, cracked, flaked, scaled or chalked away including window trim, cornice members, porch railings and other such areas. (Amended, Ord. No. 16-07)
(b) The pointing of any chimney or the pointing of any brick or stone wall is loose or has fallen out. (Amended, Ord. No. 16-07)
(c) The finish coat of a stucco wall is worn through or chipped away or broken or damaged stucco revealing metal lath must be repaired; or (Amended, Ord. Nos. 03-06; 16-07)
(d) Any boarding of openings that do not comply with the requirements of subsection 425.33, subdivision 6(e). (Amended, Ord. Nos. 03-06; 16-07)
An exterior surface or plane required to be repaired under the provisions of this section must be repaired in its entirety, or such repair must be consistent and uniform with surrounding surfaces. If a weather resistant surface such as brick, plaster or metal is covered with paint that is blistered, cracked, flaked, scaled or chalked away, it must be repainted unless the defective paint covering is removed in its entirety. (Amended, Ord. No. 16-07)
Subd. 2. Accessory structure maintenance.
Accessory structures supplied by the owner, agent, or tenant on the building premises must be structurally sound, securable and maintained in good repair. Exterior walls of accessory structures must be maintained in accordance with the standards set forth for principal structures in subdivision 1. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 07-18; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 3. Fence maintenance.
Fences must be maintained in good condition structurally, and be kept free of significant decay. Wood material, other than decay resistant varieties, shall be protected against decay by use of paint or other preservatives. If of the painted surface of a fence is determined by the enforcement officer to be paint blistered, cracked, flaked, scaled or chalked away, the surface must be properly scraped and repainted. (Amended, Ord. Nos. 07-18, 16-07)
Subd. 4. Retaining walls.
Retaining walls must be kept in good condition, repair, and appearance. A retaining wall is deemed out of repair when it has substantially shifted or slumped out of its intended position.
Subd. 5. Yard cover.
Exposed areas surrounding (or within) a principal or accessory use, including street boulevards which are not devoted to parking, drives, sidewalks, patios or other such uses, must be landscaped with grass, shrubs, trees, or other ornamented landscape material. Such landscaping shall be maintained in good condition and free of noxious weeds. Weeds, including tall grass, may not exceed eight inches in height. Perennial native prairie vegetation including grasses and/or wildflowers as identified by the city Forester, installed as a primary component of an approved raingarden or a restored prairie, is excluded from this rule on a case-by-case basis. The enforcement policy for this subdivision, and at section 820.15, shall be set and amended from time to time by resolution of the City Council. (Amended, Ord. No. 91-05, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 17-15, Sec. 1)
Subd. 6. Gutters and downspouts.
Existing gutters, leaders and downspouts must be maintained in good working condition as to provide proper drainage of storm water. In no case may storm water be channeled into the sanitary sewer system. Storm water, ice, or snow may not be directed onto, or channeled across walkways or streets where it is likely to be a hazard to life or health.
Subd. 7. Exterior lighting.
For multiple family dwellings, all exterior parking areas and walkways must be provided with an average, maintained, horizontal illumination of six-tenths (0.6) foot- candles. Parking lot illumination must not cause excess amounts of light to be cast on a public street or adjoining property. (See Zoning Code, subsection 510.25, subdivision 5.)
Subd. 8. Snow and ice removal.
Snow must be removed from abutting public sidewalks within 12 hours after cessation of snowfall.
Subd. 9. Walks, drives, lawn steps, decks and stoops.
Walks, drives, lawn steps, decks and stoops must be maintained in good repair. (Added, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subdivision 1. Minimum plumbing standards.
Plumbing in dwelling units and shared or public areas must be properly installed and maintained in a sanitary, safe, and functioning condition, and must be connected to an approved utility system.
(a) A fixture, facility, or piece of equipment requiring a sewer connection must have a functioning and vented connection, be free from cracks, defects, leaks, or obstructions, and shall possess sufficient capacity to drain all other fixtures, facilities, or pieces of equipment which feed into it. The sewer system, whether municipal or private, must be capable of conveying and disposing of the sewage in a legal, safe, sanitary, and adequate manner. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
(b) A fixture, facility, or piece of equipment requiring a water connection shall have a functioning connection, free from defects, leaks, or obstructions. Each water connection must possess sufficient capacity to adequately supply all fixtures, facilities, or pieces of equipment to which connected with an uncontaminated, controllable flow of water.
(c) Fixtures that cannot be made clean or sanitary due to cracks, delamination, or deterioration shall be repaired or replaced. (Added, Ord. No. 07-18)
Subd. 2. Minimum heating standards.
(a) Equipment provided.
All dwelling units must have a furnace or other heating facilities which are properly installed, and which are maintained in safe and good working condition, and which are capable of safely and adequately providing heating to all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at a distance of three feet above floor level and three feet from exterior walls at an outside temperature of minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating facilities shall be turned on and maintained in an operable condition from October 1st to May 1st. Gas or electric appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes and portable heating units shall not be considered as heating facilities within the meaning of this section. Portable heating equipment employing a flame that is not vented in an approved manner is prohibited. Heating facilities over 20 years of age, or those of an age that cannot be determined by permit record or by manufacturers label, must be posted with a dated indication of a service or maintenance check by a licensed mechanical or heating contractor during the previous three years. Heating facilities that have not been so serviced and posted may be required to undergo such service within a specified period of time. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
(b) Minimum temperature standards for rental properties.
(1) For all senior housing (defined in section 505.09, subdivision 40), it is the responsibility of the owner that a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (measured as described in this subsection) be maintained year round. (Amended, Ord. No. 08-01)
(2) In all other units whenever the occupant lacks direct control over the supplied heat to a dwelling unit or rooming unit, it is the responsibility of the owner that a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit be maintained at all times between October 1st to May 1st. (Amended, Ord. No. 99-07)
Subd. 3. Water heating facilities.
A dwelling unit must have supplied water heating facilities which are installed in an approved manner, properly maintained, and which are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub, shower, and laundry facilities or other similar units at a temperature of not less than 115 degrees Fahrenheit, 46 degrees Celsius, at any time needed.
Subd. 4. Minimum electrical standards.
A dwelling unit and all public and common areas must be supplied with electric service, functioning overcurrent protection devices, electric outlets, and electric fixtures which are properly installed, which must be maintained in good and safe working condition. The minimum capacity of such electric service and the minimum number of electric outlets and fixtures is as follows:
(a) Dwellings containing one or two dwelling units must have at least the equivalent of 60ampere, electric service per dwelling unit.
(b) Dwelling units must have at least one 15 ampere branch electric circuit for each 600square feet of dwelling unit floor area.
(c) Every habitable room must have at least one floor or wall-type electric convenience outlet for each 60 square feet or fraction thereof of total floor area, and in no case less than two such electric outlets. Temporary wiring, extension cords or drop cords may not be used as permanent wiring. In cases where more than two outlets are required, one ceiling or wall-type light fixture may be substituted for one required outlet. Required outlets must, insofar as possible, be spaced equal distances apart.
(d) Every water closet compartment, bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and furnace room must contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture and every bathroom and laundry room must contain at least one electric convenience outlet.
(e) Public halls and stairways in multiple family dwellings must be adequately lighted by natural or electric light so as to provide illumination having an intensity of not less than one foot candle at floor level to all parts thereof. Hallways and stairwells in one and two family rental dwellings shall have electric lighting, which shall be operated by switch. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
(f) A convenient switch for turning on a light in each dwelling unit must be located near the principal points of entrance to such unit. A patio door entrance may be exempt if it is not a principal entrance.
(g) Electrical wiring installed at accessory use structures, which are accessible to the occupants of rental dwellings, shall be properly installed in accordance with the applicable code in effect at the time of construction of that structure, and shall be maintained in good and safe working condition. (Added, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 5. Minimum natural light and ventilation.
Every habitable room shall have window area of no less than 8% of the floor area and at least one window facing directly outdoors which can be opened easily. At minimum, the total openable window area of every habitable room shall be 4% of the floor area of the room, and in no case less than four square feet. In lieu of natural ventilation, a mechanical ventilating system may be provided which is capable of providing two air changes per hour, with 20% of the air supply taken from the outside. Every non-habitable room (bathroom, water closet compartment, laundry room, and utility room) shall have at least 50% of the openable window requirement otherwise appropriate for the floor area, except that no windows shall be required if such rooms are equipped with a functioning exhaust fan connected directly to the outside, capable of providing five air changes per hour. For the purpose of determining light and ventilation requirements, any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or 25 square feet whichever is greater. Windows are not required in kitchens of dwelling units when such kitchen has an opening of at least 20 square feet into an adjoining habitable room and when such kitchen is provided with an approved mechanical ventilation system. In addition, the window area of the adjoining habitable room referred to above must be of sufficient size so as to provide for the light and ventilation requirements of the kitchen area as well as for the adjoining habitable room. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 6. Discontinuance of basic services or utilities.
An owner, operator, or occupant may not permit any service or utility which is required under the PMC to be shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling or dwelling unit let or occupied, except for such temporary interruptions as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subdivision 1. Floors, interior walls, and ceilings.
Floors, interior walls, and ceilings must be adequately protected against the passage and harborage of vermin, rodents and insects. Floors must be free of loose, warped, protruding or rotted flooring materials and all floor covering shall be maintained in good condition. Interior walls and ceilings must be free of holes and large cracks, loose plaster, and blistered paint, and shall be maintained in good condition. Toxic paint and materials may not be used where readily accessible to children. Every toilet room, bathroom and kitchen floor surface must be easily cleanable and maintained in good condition.
Subd. 2. Stairways, porches, decks, stoops and balconies.
Stairways, inside or outside of a dwelling and porches, decks and balconies must be kept in safe condition and sound repair. Every flight of stairs and every porch, deck, entry stoop and balcony floor and supports shall be free of deterioration. Every stairwell and every flight of stairs which is more than four risers high shall have at least one handrail approximately 30 to 38 inches high, measured vertically from the nose of the stair tread to the top of the handrail. All unenclosed floor and roof openings, open and glazed sides of landings and ramps, balconies or porches which are more than 30 inches above grade or floor below, and roofs used for other than service of the building shall be protected by a guardrail; guardrails shall be not less than 36 inches in height. Open guardrails and open stair railings on unenclosed stairways shall have intermediate rails such that a sphere nine inches in diameter cannot pass through. Every handrail and balustrade shall be firmly fastened and maintained in good condition. No flight of stairs or entry stoop shall have settled out of its intended position or have pulled away from the supporting or adjacent structures enough to cause a hazard. No flight of stairs or deck may have rotting, loose, or deteriorating supports. Excepting spiral and winding stairways, the treads and risers of every flight of stairs shall be uniform in width and height. Stairways shall be capable of supporting loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon. Existing stairways shall not have a rise exceed eight inches or a run of treads less than nine inches. A stairway which does not meet these rise and run requirements will be considered a built-in deficiency under the provisions of subsection 425.33, subdivision 8. Exterior landings for entry stoops and stairs shall have no dimensions less than three feet. (Amended, Ord. Nos. 03-06, 16-07)
Subd. 3. Windows, doors, and screens.
Windows, exterior doors, and hatchways must be substantially tight and kept in sound condition and repair. Every window, other than a fixed window or storm window, shall be capable of being easily opened. Every window or other device with openings to outdoor space which is used or intended to be used for ventilation to meet the minimum ventilation requirements of subsection 425.17, subdivision 4 must be supplied with 16 mesh screens. All doors, thresholds, door and window frames shall be free of blistered paint, missing putty and shall be maintained in good condition. All door and window hardware and locks shall be functional and be maintained in good condition. Operable windows shall be supplied with mechanical sash locks manufactured for that use. No door at the top of a stairway may swing open over the stairs. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 4. Safe building elements.
Every roof, floor, every porch, deck and balcony, and every appurtenance thereto, must be safe to use and capable of supporting loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)
Subd. 5. Access to dwellings.
Access to and egress from each dwelling shall be provided by at least one doorway that is a minimum of 36 inches wide and 80 inches high.
Subd. 6. Minimum ceiling height.
The ceiling height of any habitable room shall be at least seven feet; except that in any habitable room under a sloping ceiling at least one-half of the floor area shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet, and the floor area of that part of such a room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy.
Subd. 7. Rooms below grade.
A room located partly or wholly below grade may be used as a habitable room of a dwelling unit provided all of the requirements of the PMC are met. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)
Subd. 8. Sleeping rooms.
A sleeping room must have at least one window or exterior door approved for emergency exit or rescue. Required emergency exit or rescue openings shall be maintained in accordance with the code and the following: Required emergency exit and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the sleeping room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency exit and rescue openings provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with the code that was in effect at the time of construction and such devices shall be releaseable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)
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