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Sec. 9-21. Compliance with article.
Sec. 9-22. Structural condition.
Sec. 9-23. Basic equipment and facilities.
Sec. 9-24. Ventilation.
Sec. 9-25. Space, use and location.
Sec. 9-26. Safe and sanitary maintenance.
Sec. 9-27. Control of insects, rodents and infestations.
Sec. 9-28. Applicability to rooming houses.
Secs. 9-29—9-50. Reserved.
Every dwelling and dwelling unit used as a human habitation or held out for use as a human habitation shall comply with all of the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation and all of the requirements of this article. No person shall occupy as owner or occupant or let to another for occupancy or use as a human habitation any dwelling or dwelling unit which does not comply with all of the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation and all of the requirements of this article.
(Code 1977, § 13-3)
The following shall be minimum standards for structural condition:
(1) Walls or partitions or supporting members, sills, joists, rafters or other structural members shall not list, lean or buckle, shall not be rotted, deteriorated or damaged and shall not have holes or cracks which might admit rodents.
(2) Floors or roofs shall have adequate supporting members and strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
(3) Foundations, foundation walls, piers or other foundation supports shall not be deteriorated or damaged.
(4) Steps, stairs, landings, porches or other parts or appurtenances shall be maintained in such condition that they will not fall or collapse.
(5) Adequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic shall be provided.
(6) Interior walls and ceilings of all rooms, closets and hallways shall be finished with suitable materials which will, by use of reasonable household methods, promote sanitation and cleanliness and shall be maintained in such a manner so as to enable the occupants to maintain reasonable privacy between various spaces.
(7) The roof, flashings, exterior walls, basement walls, floors and all doors and windows exposed to the weather shall be constructed and maintained so as to be weathertight and watertight.
(8) There shall be no chimneys or parts thereof which are defective, deteriorated or in danger of falling, or in such condition or location as to constitute a fire hazard.
(9) There shall be no use of the ground for floors or wood floors on the ground.
(Code 1977, § 13-4)
The following shall be the minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities:
(1) Plumbing system.
a. Each dwelling unit shall be connected to a potable water supply and to the public sewer or other approved sewage disposal system.
b. Each dwelling unit shall contain not less than a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, water closet and adequate supply of both cold water and hot water. All water shall be supplied through an approved pipe distribution system connected to a potable water supply.
c. All plumbing fixtures shall meet the standards of the town plumbing code and shall be maintained in a state of good repair and in good working order.
d. All required plumbing fixtures shall be located within the dwelling unit and be accessible to the occupants of the same. The water closet and tub or shower shall be located in a room affording privacy to the user.
(2) Heating system. Every dwelling and dwelling unit shall have facilities for providing heat in accordance with either paragraph (2)a. or (2)b. of this subsection.
a. Central and electric heating systems. Every central or electric heating system shall be of sufficient capacity so as to heat all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit to which it is connected with a minimum temperature of seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit measured at a point three (3) feet above the floor during ordinary winter conditions.
b. Other heating facilities. Where a central or electric heating system is not provided, each dwelling and dwelling unit shall be provided with sufficient fireplaces, chimneys, flues or gas vents whereby heating appliances may be connected so as to heat all habitable rooms with a minimum temperature of seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit measured three (3) feet above the floor during ordinary winter conditions.
(3) Electrical system.
a. Every dwelling and dwelling unit shall be wired for electric lights and convenience receptacles. Every habitable room shall contain at least two (2) floor or wall type electric convenience receptacles, connected in such manner as determined by the town electrical code. There shall be installed in every bathroom, water closet room, laundry room and furnace room at least one (1) supplied ceiling or wall type electric light fixture. In the event wall or ceiling light fixtures are not provided in any habitable room, each such habitable room shall contain at least three (3) floor or wall type electrical convenience receptacles.
b. Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted by electric lights at all times when natural daylight is not sufficient.
c. All fixtures, receptacles, equipment and wiring shall be maintained in a state of good repair, safe, capable of being used and installed in accordance with the town electrical code.
(Code 1977, § 13-5)
The following shall be the minimum standards for ventilation:
(1) Generally. Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be ten (10) percent of the floor area of such room. Whenever walls or other portions of structures face a window or any room and such light obstructing structures are located less than five (5) feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a 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. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight type window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least fifteen (15) percent of the total floor area of such room.
(2) Habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) window or skylight which can easily be opened or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least forty-five (45) percent of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight type window size as required or shall have other approved, equivalent ventilation.
(3) Bathroom and water closet rooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms; except, that no window or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closet rooms equipped with an approved ventilation system.
(Code 1977, § 13-6)
The following shall be the minimum standards for space, use and location:
(1) Room sizes. Every dwelling unit shall contain at least the minimum room size in each habitable room as required by the town residential building code. Every dwelling unit shall contain at least one hundred fifty (150) square feet of habitable floor area for the first occupant, at least one hundred (100) square feet of additional habitable area for each of the next three (3) occupants and at least seventy-five (75) square feet of additional habitable floor area for each additional occupant. In every dwelling unit and in every rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one (1) occupant shall contain at least seventy (70) square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one (1) occupant shall contain at least fifty (50) square feet of floor area for each occupant twelve (12) years of age and over and at least thirty-five (35) square feet of floor area for each occupant under twelve (12) years of age.
(2) Ceiling height. At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven (7) feet and six (6) inches.
(3) Floor area calculation. Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area. However, closet area and wall area within the dwelling unit may count for not more than ten (10) percent of the required habitable floor area. The floor area of any part of any room where the ceiling height is less than four and one-half (4½) feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area computing the total area of the room to determine maximum permissible occupancy.
(4) Cellar. No cellar shall be used for living purposes.
(5) Basements. No basement shall be used for living purposes, unless:
a. The floor and walls are substantially watertight;
b. The total window area, total openable window area and ceiling height are equal to those required for habitable rooms; and
c. The required minimum window area of every habitable room is entirely above the grade adjoining such window area, except where the windows face a stairwell, window well or accessway.
(Code 1977, § 13-7)
The following shall be the minimum standards for safe and sanitary maintenance:
(1) Exterior foundation, walls and roofs. Every foundation wall, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be substantially weathertight and rodentproof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; shall be capable of affording privacy; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon. Every exterior wall shall be protected with paint or other protective covering to prevent the entrance or penetration of moisture or the weather.
(2) Interior floor, walls and ceiling. Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be substantially rodent proof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(3) Windows and doors. Every window, exterior door, basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be substantially weathertight, watertight and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(4) Stairs, porches and appurtenances. Every outside and inside stair, porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(5) Bathroom floors. Every bathroom floor surface and water closet compartment floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(6) Supplied facilities. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility which is required under this chapter shall be so constructed or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
(7) Drainage. Every yard shall be properly graded so as to obtain thorough drainage and so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
(8) Noxious weeds. Every yard and all exterior property areas shall be kept free of species of weeds or plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health.
(9) Egress. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with adequate means of egress as required by the town building code.
(Code 1977, § 13-8)
The following shall be the minimum standards for the control of insects, rodents and infestations:
(1) Screens. In every dwelling unit, for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outdoor space shall have supplied and installed screens and a self- closing device, and every window or other device with openings to outdoor space, used or intended to be used for ventilation, shall likewise be supplied with screens installed.
(2) Rodent control. Every basement or cellar window used or intended to be used for ventilation, and every other opening to a basement which might provide an entry for rodents, shall be supplied with screens installed or such other approved device as will effectively prevent their entrance.
(3) Infestation. Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rodentproof or reasonably insect proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(4) Rubbish storage and disposal. Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be supplied with approved containers and covers for storage of rubbish as required by this Code or other town ordinances, and the owner, operator or agent in control of such dwelling or dwelling unit shall be responsible for the removal of rubbish.
(5) Garbage storage and disposal. Every dwelling and every dwelling unit shall be supplied with an approved garbage disposal facility, which may be an adequate mechanical garbage disposal unit (mechanical sink grinder) in each dwelling unit or an incinerator unit, to be approved by the inspector, in the structure for the use of the occupants of each dwelling unit, or an approved outside garbage can as required by this Code or other town ordinances.
(Code 1977, § 13-9)
All of the provisions of this chapter and all of the minimum standards and requirements of this chapter shall be applicable to rooming houses and to every person who operates a rooming house or who occupies or lets to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house, except as provided in the following subsections:
(1) Water closet, hand lavatory and bath facilities. At least one (1) water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, properly connected to an approved water and sewer system and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each four (4) rooms within a rooming house wherever such facilities are shared. All such facilities shall be located within the residence building served and shall be directly accessible from a common hall or passageway and shall be not more than one (1) story removed from any of the persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water at all times. Such required facilities shall not be located in a cellar.
(2) Minimum floor area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one (1) occupant shall contain at least seventy (70) square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one (1) occupant shall contain at least fifty (50) square feet of floor area for each occupant twelve (12) years of age and over and at least thirty-five (35) square feet of floor area for each occupant under twelve (12) years of age.
(3) Sanitary conditions. The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings and for the sanitary maintenance of every other part of the rooming house; and he shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building within which the rooming house is contained is leased or occupied by the operator.
(4) Sanitary facilities. Every water closet, flush urinal, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required by subsection (1) of this section shall be located within the rooming house and within a room which affords privacy and is separate from the habitable rooms, and which is accessible from a common hall and without going outside the rooming house or through any other room therein.
(Code 1977, § 13-10)
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