§ 45-24.3-12 - Rooming house.
SECTION 45-24.3-12
§ 45-24.3-12 Rooming house. – (a) No person shall operate a rooming house, or occupy, or let to another foroccupancy, any rooming house except in compliance with the provisions of§§ 45-24.3-6, 45-24.3-7, and 45-24.3-11. No owner or other personshall occupy, or let to another person, any vacant rooming unit unless it isclean, sanitary, and fit for human occupancy, and in compliance with allapplicable requirements of this state and of the corporate unit.
(b) No person shall operate a rooming house unless he or sheholds a valid rooming house permit issued by the appropriate authority in thename of the operator and for the specific dwelling or dwelling unit specifiedtherein. The operator shall apply to the appropriate authority for the permit,which shall be issued only after it has been determined that the rooming houseis in compliance with the applicable provisions of this chapter and with anyrules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. This permit must bedisplayed in a conspicuous place within the rooming house at all times. Nopermit is transferable. Every person holding a permit shall give notice inwriting to the appropriate authority within twenty-four (24) hours after havingsold, transferred, given away, or otherwise disposed of ownership of, interestin, or control of any rooming house. The notice shall include the name andaddress of the person succeeding to the ownership, or control, of the roominghouse. Every rooming house permit expires at the end of the year of licensefollowing its date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked as providedin this chapter.
(c) At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin, andbathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system or septictank, approved by the health officer and in good working condition, must besupplied for each six (6) persons, or fraction thereof, residing within arooming house, including members of the operator's family wherever they sharethe use of these facilities, provided:
(1) That in a rooming house where rooms are let only tomales, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half ( 1/2) therequired number of water closets;
(2) That all these facilities are so located within thedwelling to be reasonably accessible for a common hall or passageway to allpersons sharing these facilities;
(3) That every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower issupplied with heated and unheated water under pressure at all times;
(4) That no facilities are located in a basement, except bywritten approval of the appropriate authority;
(5) That cooking in a rooming unit is prohibited unlessutilities are installed in accordance with applicable local and state law;
(6) That communal cooking and dining facilities in a roominghouse prohibited, except as approved by the enforcing officer in writing; and
(7) That rooming unit doors have operating locks to insureprivacy.
(d) Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one personcontain at least eighty (80) square feet of floor space, and every roomoccupied for sleeping by more than one person contains at least sixty (60)square feet of floor space for each occupant, and every room must also containat least four (4) square feet of closet space per occupant with at least anunobstructed height of five feet (5'). If the room is lacking, in whole or inpart, an amount of space, equal in square footage to the deficiency, besubtracted from the area of habitable room space used in determiningpermissible occupancy.
(e) Every rooming unit about the first floor must haveimmediate access to two (2) or more safe, unobstructed means of egress,appropriately marked, one of which will have a minimum head room of six feet(6') six inches (6"), leading to a safe and open space at ground level, asrequired by the appropriate statutes, ordinances, and regulations of this stateand of the corporate unit.
(f) Every provision of this chapter, which applies to roominghouses, also applies to hotels and motels, except to the extent that anyprovision may be found in conflict with the laws of this state or the corporateunit.
(g) Structurally sound handrails must be provided on anysteps containing five (5) risers or more. If steps are not enclosed, handrailsand balusters spaced no more than six inches (6") apart must be provided.Porches and/or balconies located more than three feet (3') higher than theadjacent areas have structurally sound protective handrails thirty inches (30")to thirty-six inches (36") high, and, if unenclosed, balusters spaced no morethan six inches (6") apart must also be provided. Alternate systems providingat least the same degree of safety, if approved by the appropriate authority,will be accepted.
(h) Access to or egress from each rooming unit must beprovided without passing through any other rooming unit, dwelling unit, orbathroom.