§ 20-174. Maximum density, minimum space, use and location requirements.

No person shall occupy or let to be occupied any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, unless there is compliance with the following requirements:

(1)

The following shall be the required minimum space for occupancy.

a.

Every dwelling unit shall contain not less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor space for the first occupant and not less than one hundred (100) square feet of additional floor space for each additional occupant thereof.

b.

No room shall be used for sleeping purposes unless it shall have a floor area of not less than seventy (70) square feet.

c.

Every habitable room shall have a clear room width of not less than seven (7) feet at the narrowest point exclusive of projections affecting less than ten (10) percent of the floor area.

d.

No part of a room shall be included within the floor area required above where the ceiling height is less than five (5) feet. At least half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven (7) feet.

(2)

No space located partially or totally below grade shall be used as a habitable room of a dwelling unit unless approved by the Director of Health in writing and unless:

a.

The floor and those portions of the walls below grade are of waterproof and dampproof construction.

b.

The minimum window area is equal to at least that required in section 20-171(1); and such window area is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area, or, if windows are located wholly or partly below grade, there will be constructed a properly drained window well whose open area is equal to or greater than the area of the masonry opening for the window; the bottom of the window well is below the top of the impervious masonry construction under this window, and the minimum horizontal distance at a right angle from the point of the window well is equal to or greater than the vertical depth of the window well as measured from the bottom of the masonry opening for the window, except where there is supplied adequate artificial illumination.

c.

The total openable window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum as required under section 20-171(2), except where some other approved devices affording adequate ventilation and humidity control are supplied.

d.

There are no pipes, ducts or other obstructions less than six (6) feet, eight (8) inches above the floor level which interfere with the normal use of the room or area.

(3)

Not more than one (1) family plus four (4) boarders or a group of not more than four (4) persons keeping house together, unrelated to the family, except for guests or domestic employees, shall occupy a dwelling unit unless a permit for a roominghouse has been granted by the Director of Health.

(4)

Every dwelling unit shall have at least four (4) square feet of floor-to-ceiling-height closet space for the personal effects of each permissible occupant; if it is lacking, in whole or in part, an amount of space equal in square footage to the deficiency shall be subtracted from the area of habitable room space used in determining permissible occupancy.

(Code 1961, § 10-9; Ord. No. 241, 3-6-1979; Ord. No. 467, 5-4-1993)