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)