Carbondale Title 4 Ch. 4 Housing Code § 4-4-10

No person shall own or occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit intended for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:


A. Lighting: Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing outdoors or artificial lighting capable of producing at least an average illumination of six (6) foot- candles over the area of the room at a height of thirty inches (30") above the floor (3 foot-candles minimum requirement in bathrooms), excepting that such rooms that are connected to another room or area and such other room or area is used only seasonally (such as, but not limited to, porches) and adequate daylight enters the said habitable room through the interconnection, are not required to have such windows or skylights. The minimum total window or skylight area shall be measured between stops and shall be, for every room where required, equal to at least eight percent (8%) of the floor area of the room in which located. No window shall be deemed to be facing outdoors if any light-obstructing structures are located less than three feet (3') from such window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room in which such window is located, and the same shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area.


B. Ventilation: Every habitable room, excepting those connected to another room or area that is used only seasonally and adequate ventilation is provided through such interconnection and further excepting those rooms ventilated by some other approved device, shall have at least one window or skylight facing outdoors which can be easily opened, or provided mechanical exhaust of sixty (60) cfm, exhausted to the atmosphere above the roof line and away from openable windows into which foul air might be blown. The total of openable window or skylight area required shall be equal to at least four percent (4%) of the floor area of the room in which it is located.


C. Bathroom Ventilation: Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the ventilation requirements for habitable rooms as provided in subsection B of this section.


D. Electrical Service: Where there in usable electrical service available from power lines which are situated not more than three hundred feet (300') from a dwelling, every dwelling unit situated in such dwelling and all public and common areas of such dwelling shall be supplied with electrical service, outlets and fixtures, which shall be properly installed with the use of temporary wiring being strictly prohibited, shall be maintained in good and safe working condition, and shall be connected to a source of electrical power in a lawful manner. The minimum capacity of such services and the number of outlets and fixtures shall be as follows:


1. Every habitable room shall have an electrical service and outlets and/or fixtures capable of providing at least three (3) watts per square foot of total floor area. Outlets should be distributed reasonably evenly around the room. Extension cords may not be used for more than their UL rated capacity.


2. Every habitable room and every nonhabitable room used for food preparation shall have at least one floor-type or one wall-type electrical convenience outlet for each sixty (60) square feet or fraction thereof total floor area, and in no case less than two (2) such outlets.


3. Every bathroom, water closet compartments, kitchen or kitchenette, laundry room, furnace room and public hall shall contain at least one coiling-type or one wall-type electrical light fixture.


Every public hall and every stairway in every multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted by natural or electrical light at all times, so as to provide in all parts thereof at least ten (10) foot-candles of light at the tread or floor level. Every public hall and every stairway in structures containing not more than two (2) dwelling units or not more than two (2) rooms used as rooming units shall comply with the provisions of this subsection relating to multiple-dwellings, or in the alternative, shall be supplied with conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system to be turned on when needed with full-time lighting not being required.


E. Heating Facilities: Every dwelling shall have permanent heating facilities which are properly installed, maintained in safe and good working condition with proper safety devices, and which are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein, to a temperature of at least sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit (68°F) at a distance of thirty six inches (36") above floor level under ordinary winter conditions. Permanent, heating facilities are not capable of being readily moved around the dwelling and are generally affixed directly to the building. Examples of permanent heating facilities include but are not limited to oil, gas, electric and coal furnaces or boilers; electrical heat pumps; wood furnaces or stoves; electric baseboard heaters, active or passive solar devices; or devices connected to a district heating system. Permanent heating facilities can be used singly or in combinations to meet the performance standards contained herein. Any auxiliary heater shall be UL approved and equipped with automatic shutoff. All auxiliary heaters must be used in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Auxiliary heaters are intended to supplement the permanent heating facilities. Auxiliary heating devices include but are not limited to portable electric space heaters and portable kerosene or oil heaters. The capacity of auxiliary heaters shall not be counted in determining whether the performance standards for heating are met in a dwelling.


F. Insect Protection: During that portion of each year between May 1 and October 1, both dates inclusive, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit or rooming unit to outside space that is used for ventilation and every window and other device with openings to outside space that is used or capable of being used for ventilation shall have properly fitted screens having at least sixteen (16) mesh so as to afford protection against mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects. Screens must be on premises and available for inspection from October 2 through April 30, both dates inclusive. Also between May 1 and September 30 all hinged screen doors shall be equipped with self-closing devices. (Ord. 84-103)