§ 45-24.3-8 - Minimum standards for light and ventilation.
SECTION 45-24.3-8
§ 45-24.3-8 Minimum standards for lightand ventilation. – (a) No person shall occupy as owner or occupant, or let to another foroccupancy, any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein,which does not comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) Every habitable room must have at least one window orskylight facing directly outdoors (provided that if connected to a room or areaused seasonally (e.g., porch) then adequate daylight must be possible throughthis interconnection). The minimum total window area, measured between stops,for every habitable room is not less than ten percent (10%) of the floor areaof that room. Whenever walls, or other portions of structures, face a window ofthe room, and light obstructing structures are located less than three feet(3') from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of theroom, the window is not deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall notbe included as contributing to the required minimum total window area. Wheneverthe only window in a room is a skylight type window in the top of the room, thetotal window area of the skylight shall equal at least ten percent (10%) of thetotal floor area of the room. Each window is not less than three (3) squarefeet in area.
(c) Every habitable room must have at least one window orskylight facing directly outdoors which can be easily opened, or other deviceto adequately ventilate the room; provided, that if connected to a room or areaused seasonally, then adequate ventilation must be possible through thisinterconnection. The total of openable window area in every habitable room mustbe equal to at least fifty percent (50%) of the minimum window area size, orminimum skylight type window size, as required in this section, except wherethere is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and lightingapproved by the appropriate authority.
(d) Every bathroom and water closet compartment andnonhabitable room used for food preparation must comply with the light andventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in this section, exceptthat no window or skylight is required in adequately ventilated bathrooms andwater closet compartments equipped with a ventilation system approved byappropriate authority.
(e) Where there is usable electric service available frompower lines, not more than three hundred feet (300') away from a dwelling,every dwelling unit, and all public and common areas, must be supplied withelectric service, outlets and fixtures which are properly installed, maintainedin good and safe working condition, and connected to the source of electricpower in a manner prescribed by the ordinances, rules, and regulations of thecorporate unit. The minimum capacity of these services, and the minimum numberof outlets and fixtures, are as follows:
(1) Every habitable room must have electric service andoutlets and/or fixtures capable of providing at least three (3) watts persquare foot of floor area.
(2) Every habitable room and nonhabitable room used for foodpreparation must have at least one floor or wall type electric convenienceoutlet for each sixty (60) square feet, or fraction thereof, of floor area, andin no case less than two (2) outlets.
(3) Every water closet compartment, bathroom, and kitchen orkitchenette, laundry room, furnace room, and public hall must contain at leastone supplied ceiling, or wall, electric light fixture.
(4) Convenient switches or equivalent devices for turning onone light in each room or passageway must be located so as to permit the areaahead to be lighted.
(5) Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwellingmust be adequately lighted by natural or electric light at all times to providein all parts at least six (6) footcandles of light at the tread or floor level.Every public hall and stairway, in structures containing not more than three(3) dwelling units, may be supplied with conveniently located light switches,controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed,instead of full time lighting.