§ 20-170. Minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities.

No person shall occupy as owner, occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purposes of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:

(1)

Every 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 area and shall be equipped with the following:

a.

A kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water supply system which is approved by the Director of Health and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure, and which is connected to a sewer or septic system approved by the Director of Health.

b.

Cabinets and/or shelves for the storage of eating, drinking, and cooking equipment and utensils and of food that does not under ordinary summer conditions require refrigeration for safekeeping; said cabinets and/or shelves and counter or table shall be adequate for the permissible occupancy of the 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.

c.

A stove, or similar device, for cooking food and a refrigerator, or similar device, for the safe storage of food at temperatures less than fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit, but more than thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit, under ordinary maximum summer conditions, which are properly installed with all necessary connections for safe, sanitary and efficient operation; provided that such stove, refrigerator, and/or similar devices need not be installed when a dwelling unit is not occupied and when the occupant is expected to provide same on occupancy, and that sufficient space and adequate connections for the safe and efficient installation and operation of said stove, refrigerator and/or similar devices are provided.

(2)

Within every dwelling unit there shall be a nonhabitable room which affords privacy to a person within said room and which is equipped with a flush water closet in good working condition. Said flush water closet shall be connected to a 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 a sewer system or septic system which is approved by the Director of Health.

(3)

Within every dwelling unit there shall be a lavatory sink. Said lavatory sink may be in the same room as the flush water closet, or, if located in another room, the lavatory sink shall be located in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which said water closet is located. The lavatory sink shall be in good working condition and properly connected to a water supply system which is approved by the Director of Health and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure, and which is connected to a sewer system or septic system approved by the Director of Health.

(4)

Within every dwelling unit there shall be a room which affords privacy to a person within said room and which is equipped with a bathtub or shower in good working condition. Said bathtub or shower may be in the same room as the flush water closet or in another room and shall be properly connected to a water supply system which is approved by the Director of Health and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated water under pressure, and which is connected to a sewer system or septic system approved by the Director of Health.

(5)

Every dwelling shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot water lines required under the provisions of subsections (1)a, (3) and (4) of this section, and 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 or shower at a temperature of not less than one hundred twenty (120) degrees Fahrenheit. Such supplied water heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this subsection when the dwelling or dwelling unit heating facilities required under the provisions of the subsections of this section are not in operation.

(6)

Every dwelling unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress, leading to safe and open spaces at ground level, as required by the statutes, ordinances and regulations of the City.

(7)

Railing or parapets, not less than thirty-four (34) inches high shall be placed around porches, balconies and roofs more than thirty (30) inches above the ground level which are used by the occupants. Stairway having more than three (3) steps shall be equipped with railing.

(8)

Each dwelling shall have a suitable facility for the safe storage of drugs and household poisons.

(9)

No person shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit unless all exterior doors of the dwelling or dwelling unit are equipped with functioning locking devices.

(Code 1961, § 10-5; Ord. No. 241, 3-6-1979; Ord. No. 354, § 5, 3-4-1980)