No person shall rent to another for occupancy any dwelling unit, for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating which does not comply with the following requirements:
(A) Kitchen facilities. Every rental dwelling unit shall have a room or portion of a room in which food may be prepared and/or cooked, which shall have adequate circulation and which shall be equipped with the following:
(1) A kitchen sink in working condition and properly connected to an approved water supply system and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure, and which is connected to an approved sanitary sewer system.
(2) Cabinets and/or shelves for the storage of eating, drinking and cooking equipment and utensils and for food that does not require refrigeration; and a counter or table for food preparation. Cabinets and/or shelves and counter or table shall be adequate for the permissible occupancy of the rental dwelling unit and shall be of sound construction furnished with surfaces that are easily cleanable and that will not impart any toxic or deleterious effect to food.
(3) A stove or similar device for cooking food and a refrigerator or similar device for the safe storage of food, which are properly installed with all necessary connections for safe, sanitary and efficient operation. Provided that such stove, refrigerator or similar device need not be installed when a rental dwelling unit is not occupied and when the occupant is expected to provide same on occupancy, in which case sufficient space and adequate connections for the installation and operation of the stove, refrigerator or similar device must be provided.
(B) Toilet facilities. There shall be a non-habitable room that is equipped with a flush water closet in working condition. In a rental dwelling unit, the room shall have an entrance door that affords privacy. A flush water closet shall be equipped with easily cleanable surfaces, shall be connected to an approved water system that at all times provides an adequate amount of running water under pressure to cause the water closet to be operated properly and shall be connected to an approved sanitary sewer system.
(C) Lavatory sink. Within every rental dwelling unit there shall be a lavatory sink. The lavatory sink may be in the same room as the flush water closet. If located in another room, the lavatory sink shall be located in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which the water closet is located. The lavatory sink shall be in working condition, shall be properly connected to an approved water supply system, shall provide at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure and shall be connected to an approved sanitary sewer system.
(D) Bathtub or shower. Within every rental dwelling unit there shall be a non-habitable room that is equipped with a bathtub or shower in working condition. In a rental dwelling unit, the room shall have an entrance door that affords privacy. The bathtub or shower may be in the same room as the flush water closet or in another room, shall be properly connected to an approved water supply system, shall provide proper ventilation (such as, fan or operable window), shall provide at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated water under pressure, and shall be connected to an approved sanitary sewer system.
(E) Stairways, porches and balconies. Every stairway, porch, or balcony shall be kept in safe condition and of sound repair, free of deterioration. No flight of stairs shall have rotting, loose or deteriorating supports. Stairways shall be capable of supporting a live load of 100 pounds per square foot of horizontal projection. Decks shall be able to support 40 pounds per square foot live load and ten pounds per square foot dead load.
(F) Handrails and guardrails.
(1) Every exterior and interior flight of stairs having more than four risers shall have a handrail on one side of the stair and every open portion of stair, landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp or other walking surface which is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards. Handrails shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) high or more than 42 inches (1067 mm) high measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. Guards shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) high above the floor of the landing, balcony, porch, deck, or ramp or other walking surface.
(2) Exception: Guards shall not be required where exempted by the adopted building code.
(G) Access to rental dwelling units. Access to or egress from each rental dwelling unit shall be provided without passing through any other dwelling unit.
(H) Door locks. No owner shall occupy nor let to another for occupancy any dwelling unit unless all exterior doors of the rental dwelling unit are equipped with safe, functioning locking devices. Multiple family dwellings shall also be furnished with door locks as follows: every door that is designed to provide ingress or egress for a dwelling unit within a multiple family rental dwelling shall be equipped with an approved locking device, provided, however, that door shall be operable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.
(I) Electrical equipment. All electrical equipment, wiring and appliances shall be installed and maintained in a safe manner in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Minnesota State Electrical Code. All electrical equipment shall be of an approved type. Every habitable room shall contain at least two supplied electric convenience outlets or one such convenience outlet and one supplied electric fixture. Every toilet room, bathroom, furnace room, laundry room and public hallway shall contain at least one supplied electric light fixture.
(J) Windows. Every habitable space shall have at least one window facing directly outdoors that can be opened easily.
(K) Emergency escape openings. Required emergency escape openings shall be maintained in accordance with the code in effect at the time of construction and the following. Required emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grills, grates or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape 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 releasable 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.
(L) Heating. No person shall rent to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purposes of living therein, which does not have heating facilities which are properly installed, which are not maintained in safe working condition and which are not capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms in every dwelling unit located therein. Gas or electric appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes shall not be considered as heating facilities within the meaning of this chapter. Portable heating equipment employing flame and the use of liquid fuel do not meet the requirements of this chapter and are prohibited. No owner or occupant shall install, operate or use a space heater employing a flame that is not vented outside the structure in an approved manner.
(M) Maximum occupancy.
(1) Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 200 square feet of floor space for the first occupant and at least 100 additional square feet of floor space for every additional occupant.
(2) The floor space shall be calculated on the basis of total habitable room area, inside measurements. No floor space shall be included in the determination of habitable room area over which the ceiling is less than seven feet above the floor.
(N) Water supply. Each rental dwelling unit shall be supplied with drinking water which meets all local, state and federal drinking water standards.
(Ord. 08-04, passed 10-14-08; Am. Ord. 12-03, passed 8-8-12) Penalty, see § 116.99