Buildings occupied in whole or in part as defined
in this code shall comply with the requirements hereinafter set forth
concerning occupancy, size, light and ventilation in order to provide
a safe and healthful environment.
A.
Calculation. For the purposes of this regulation,
each person 12 years of age and older shall be counted as one person.
Children more than one year old but less than 12 years old shall be
deemed to be 1/2 person, and infants up to one year old shall not
be counted. The floor area shall be based upon the area of habitable
rooms contained within the living unit, exclusive of utility and storage
rooms, halls, closets, porches and any connecting spaces. Any area
in a habitable room which has a ceiling height of less than five feet
shall not be counted or included in the computation of the space.
B.
Dwelling units.
(1)
Every dwelling unit shall have at least 120 square
feet of habitable floor space for the first occupant, plus 70 square
feet of habitable floor space for each additional occupant. Each dwelling
unit shall contain one habitable room with at least 120 square feet
of floor area and a minimum horizontal dimension of eight feet. Any
additional habitable rooms shall have a minimum floor area of 70 square
feet and a minimum horizontal dimension of seven feet.
(2)
Mixed occupancies; apartments. All new dwelling units subject to §§ 250-18F and 250-19E shall have 400 square feet of habitable space for each efficiency or one-bedroom (sleeping room) apartment, and each additional sleeping room shall have 100 square feet of habitable space.
[Added 3-8-1979 by L.L. No. 4-1979]
C.
Sleeping rooms. No room in any dwelling unit or rooming
unit shall be used for sleeping purposes unless there is a minimum
habitable floor space of 70 square feet for the first occupant and
minimum habitable floor space of 50 square feet for each additional
occupant.
D.
Ceiling height. At least 1/2 of the floor space of
any habitable room must have an average ceiling height of at least
seven feet six inches. Portions of floor spaces having ceiling heights
less than five feet shall not be counted.
A.
It shall be prohibited to use for sleeping purposes
any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space.
B.
It shall be prohibited to use any cellar space as
habitable space.
C.
Use of single-family dwelling by more than one family
is prohibited.
D.
Use of a two-family dwelling by more than two families
is prohibited.
A.
Basements or cellars. The basement or cellar of any
building shall be dry and ventilated and shall be kept free from rubbish
accumulation and infestation.
B.
Basement dwelling units. No room in any basement shall
be occupied as a habitable room unless:
(1)
The finished floor surface is not more than four feet
below grade.
(2)
The ceiling is not less than four feet above grade.
(3)
The floors and walls are waterproof and damp-proof
in accordance with an approved method, if in contact with earth.
(4)
Such waterproofing shall be between the floor or wall
finish and the ground.
C.
Lighting and ventilation. Every habitable room in
a dwelling or dwelling unit shall contain a window or windows opening
directly to the outside air, and the total area of said window or
windows shall not be less than 10% of the floor area of such rooms,
provided that such window shall not be less than 10 square feet. All
window sash shall be glazed and provided with suitable hardware, and
shall be made to open to the extent of not less than 5% of the floor
area of such room.
A.
Height. Public space shall have a minimum height of
seven feet six inches measured from finished floor to finished ceiling.
B.
Light. Public spaces shall be provided with artificial
light. In public stairs, stairways and passageways, artificial light
shall be electric lighting available at all times so as to afford
safe passage for occupants and users. Such lighting shall conform
to the following:
(1)
A sufficient number of fixtures shall be provided
so that the distance between fixtures is not more than 30 feet, and
so that no wall is more than 15 feet distant from a fixture.
(2)
Incandescent lighting shall be based on not less than
1/4 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall
have a lamp or lamps with a total of not less than 25 watts.
(3)
Fluorescent lighting shall be based on not less than
1/10 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture
shall have a lamp or lamps of a total of not less than 15 watts.
(4)
Where under these formulas the calculated wattage
does not correspond to that of a standard lamp, the next larger size
shall be used.
C.
Ventilation. Public spaces shall be provided with
either natural ventilation, conforming to the requirements for habitable
space, or with mechanical ventilation.
A.
Height. Nonhabitable space, except crawl spaces and
attics, in multiple dwellings shall have a minimum height of seven
feet, measured from floor to ceiling.
B.
Toilet rooms and bathrooms.
(1)
Toilet rooms and bathrooms in one- and two-family
dwellings shall have provisions for privacy.
(2)
Toilet rooms and bathrooms for dwelling units in multiple
dwellings shall be located within the dwelling units and shall be
accessible from any sleeping room without passing through any other
sleeping room.
(3)
Unless located within dwelling units or directly connected
with sleeping rooms, toilet rooms and bathrooms in multiple dwellings
shall be provided in each story containing habitable space and shall
be accessible thereto.
(4)
Toilet rooms for employees in multiple dwellings shall
be in separate rooms for each sex where there are five or more employees,
shall be readily accessible to such employees and shall not open directly
into any public kitchen or other public space used for the cooking
or preparation of food.
(5)
In one- and two-family dwellings, bathrooms and toilet
rooms shall be provided with floors of moisture-resistant material.
(6)
In multiple dwellings, floors of bathrooms, toilet
rooms and similar spaces shall be waterproof; such waterproofing shall
extend six inches or more above floors, except at doors, so that floor
can be flushed or washed without leaking.
C.
Light.
(1)
Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be
provided with artificial light appropriate for the use of such rooms.
(2)
Laundry rooms, furnace rooms and similar nonhabitable
space shall be provided with artificial light appropriate for the
intended use of such rooms.
(3)
Stairs shall be provided with artificial light to
allow safe ascent or descent.
D.
Ventilation.
(1)
Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be
provided with ventilation in accordance with either of the following:
(a)
Natural ventilation as required for habitable
space, except that such openable areas shall not be less than one
and 1/2 square feet for bathrooms or toilet rooms and not less than
three square feet for kitchenettes; or
(b)
Mechanical ventilation exhausting not less than
25 cubic feet per minute for bathrooms and toilet rooms and not less
than 100 cubic feet per minute for kitchenettes.
(2)
Spaces in multiple dwellings which contain central
heat-producing, air-conditioning and other equipment shall be ventilated
to the outer air, and air from these spaces shall not be recirculated
to other parts of the building.
(3)
Ventilation shall be provided in unheated attics,
spaces below flat roofs and crawl spaces. Location and net areas of
ventilation openings shall be such as to minimize deterioration of
structural members from condensation or other causes, in conformity
with generally accepted standards.
A.
Safe, continuous and unobstructed exit shall be provided
from the interior of the building to the exterior at street or grade
level.
B.
Exits shall be arranged, constructed and proportioned
so that occupants may escape safely from the building in case of emergency.
C.
In one- and two-family dwellings, in addition to a
primary exit from the building, there shall be provided a secondary
exit or, in lieu thereof, one or more exit openings for emergency
use.
D.
In multiple dwellings, approved exits shall be provided.
