East St. Louis — Ch. 26 Art. XX Roominghouses § 26-1208
Basement and cellar accommodations
Operative Text
If living or sleeping accommodations are provided or used by guests or tenants in the basement or cellar of a roominghouse, such basement or cellar shall be treated the same as an upper story, and exits shall be provided accordingly. One exit from basements or cellars shall open directly outside, or shall be an inside stairway leading to the outside of the building, and the other exits shall be doors leading to outside stairways to the ground level, or horizontal exits.
East St. Louis Ch. 26 Art. XX § 26-1208 establishes that any basement or cellar space used for living or sleeping in a roominghouse must meet the same exit standards as upper-floor units. At least one exit must lead directly outside or connect to an interior stairway that reaches the building's exterior, while additional exits must consist of doors to exterior stairways reaching ground level or horizontal exits. The rule ensures that occupants of below-grade spaces have adequate means of escape in an emergency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of roominghouses in East St. Louis should ensure that any basement or cellar space offered for occupancy complies with the exit requirements of § 26-1208, treating those spaces identically to upper-story units. A compliant property typically features at least one exit that opens directly to the outside or leads through an interior stairway to the exterior, plus additional exits via exterior stairways to ground level or horizontal exits. Routine inspections of these egress paths help confirm that doors, stairways, and hardware remain functional and unobstructed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under East St. Louis Ch. 26 Art. XX § 26-1208, tenants and guests occupying basement or cellar rooms in a roominghouse are entitled to the same exit protections as those living on upper floors. If egress from a below-grade unit appears inadequate—such as a missing direct exterior exit or blocked stairway—this may constitute a code violation that can be reported to the local building or housing inspection authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help occupants understand available options, including how a code violation may be raised in housing proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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