Natick, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. ch. XI (2002) § 5
LIGHT, VENTILATION, HEATING AND EGRESS
Operative Text
The owner shall be responsible for compliance with the
provisions of all Subsection of Section 5 of these standards.
5.1 Every habitable room shall have at least one window or
skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total
window or skylight area measured between stops, for every
habitable room shall be 10 per cent of the floor area of such
room. Whenever walls or other portions of structures face a
window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures
are located less than 3 feet from the window and extend to a
level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window
shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall
not be included as contributing to the required minimum total
window area.
5.2 Every habitable room shall have at least one window or
skylight which can be easily opened. The total openable
window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least
45 per cent of the minimum window area or minimum skylight
area, as required in Subsection 5.1 of Section 5 of these
minimum standards except where there is supplied some other
device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the
Board of Health.
5.3 Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall be well
lighted and ventilated. Three foot candles of light three
lumens per square foot) shall be provided by either natural or
artificial means and shall be available at all times. Such light
shall be measured 36 inches from the floor at the center of the
room. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall
have at least one window or skylight which can be easily
opened. The total openable window area shall be equal to at
least forty-five per cent of the minimum window area or
minimum skylight area as required in Subsection 5.1 of
Section 5 of these minimum standards. Such window area
requirements of this section may be waived provided that there
is an installed mechanical ventilation system approved by the
Board of Health.
5.4 Where there is electric service available from power lines
which are not more than 300 feet away from a dwelling, every
habitable room shall contain at least two separate wall type
electric convenience outlets, or one such convenience outlet
and one ceiling or wall type electric light fixture. Every such
outlet and fixture shall be properly installed, shall be
maintained in good and safe working condition, and shall be
connected to the source of electric power in a safe manner. No
temporary wiring shall be used except extension cords which
run directly from portable electrical fixtures to convenience
outlets, and which do not lie under rugs or other floor
coverings, nor extend through doorways, transoms or other
openings through structural elements.
5.5 Every portion of any interior passageway or staircase common
to two or more families in a building used for human
habitation shall be illuminated naturally or artificially at all
times with an illumination of at least two lumens per square
foot (2 foot candles) in the darkest portion of the normally
traveled stairs and passageways. Such means of illumination
in dwellings occupied by three families or less may be
controlled by switches that may be turned on as needed.
5.6 Every means of egress from a dwelling unit or a lodging unit
shall be safe and unobstructed.
5.7 Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly
installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition,
are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable
rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartment located
therein to a temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit under
ordinary minimum winter conditions. The temperature shall
be read at a height of three feet above floor level at the center
of the room. Such heating equipment shall be installed and
maintained in accordance with the applicable regulations of the
Board of Fire Prevention Regulations of the Massachusetts
Department of Public Safety.
5.8 Space heaters, except electrical, shall be properly vented to a
chimney or duct leading to outdoors.Section 5 of the Natick Board of Health Regulation Ch. XI establishes minimum standards for light, ventilation, heating, and egress in residential dwellings. Habitable rooms must meet specific window area and openability requirements, bathrooms must be lit and ventilated to defined levels, electrical outlets must meet minimum counts and safety standards, common passageways must be illuminated, all egress paths must remain safe and clear, and heating systems must be capable of maintaining at least 70°F under ordinary winter conditions. Responsibility for compliance with all subsections of Section 5 rests with the property owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Section 5 of Natick Board of Health Reg. Ch. XI, compliant property owners generally ensure that every habitable room has windows or skylights meeting the 10% floor-area threshold and that at least 45% of that area is openable, or that a Board of Health–approved ventilation device is in place. Owners also maintain safe, properly installed electrical outlets and fixtures in each habitable room (where power lines are within 300 feet), keep common stairways and passageways illuminated to at least 2 foot-candles at all times, and verify that heating systems can reach 70°F at the three-foot measurement height during winter. Space heaters that are not electric must be vented to a chimney or outdoor duct, and all egress paths must remain unobstructed at all times.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5 of Natick Board of Health Reg. Ch. XI gives tenants the right to live in units that meet defined minimums for natural light, ventilation, electrical safety, common-area lighting, heating, and safe exit paths. If a habitable room lacks adequate windows, a bathroom is poorly lit or unventilated, heating cannot reach 70°F, or an exit is blocked, these conditions may constitute violations of the regulation. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards can document the conditions, contact the Natick Board of Health to request an inspection, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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