Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:503

Unless otherwise provided, no person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any dwelling or dwelling unit which does not comply with the following requirements: (1)
Minimum living space.
(a) Every dwelling unit except efficiencies, shall have at least 225 square feet of habitable room area. Every dwelling unit shall have at least 1 common room of 120 square feet for 1-bedroom apartments, 135 square feet for a 2-bedroom apartment, and 150 square feet for 3 or more bedroom apartments. Kitchen and dining areas, if provided as separate areas, shall have a minimum habitable room area of 35 and 50 feet respectively.
(b) Sleeping rooms, except efficiencies, used by 1 person shall contain at least 70 square feet of habitable room area.
(c) Every sleeping room used by more than 1 person contains 50 square feet of habitable area for each occupant or 40 square feet for each occupant under 12 years of age.
(d) In a rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes shall contain the following minimum habitable room area:
One person: 80 square feet.
More than 1 person: 80 square feet, plus 50 square feet for each additional person.
(e) If a written lease specifies the number of bedrooms in the units, the furniture or living style of residents shall not affect the approval of a dwelling for occupancy so long as no room is occupied as a sleeping room unless the room complies with the smoke detector and exit requirements of this chapter.
(2) Efficiencies. An efficiency shall have a minimum habitable room area of 150 square feet for 1 occupant, and 100 square feet for each additional occupant. An efficiency shall have a kitchen area contained within the 150 square feet of habitable room area, or shall have a separate kitchen with a minimum area of 35 square feet and a separate bathroom.
(3) Height of ceiling and doors; existing buildings.
(a) Basement rooms. At least 80% of the required floor area of every habitable room in a basement unit shall have a ceiling height of at least 6 feet 8 inches. The remainder of the required floor area may be not less than 6 feet in height. Pipes, ducts, and beams closer than 3 feet to one another, outside to outside, shall be measured at 1 lowest dimension. A variance may not be granted to allow a ceiling height of less than 6 feet.
(b) Sloped ceiling rooms. At least 50% of the required floor area of every habitable room with a sloping ceiling shall have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet. The floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than 5 feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room.
(c) Other rooms. All of the required area of habitable rooms, other than cellar, sloped ceiling and basement rooms, shall have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet.
(d) Openings to habitable space. Openings to habitable space shall be at least 6 feet 2 inches high and 22 inches wide. Height of the opening shall be measured at the midpoint. Openings at least 6 feet high are allowable if the height of the opening is limited by structural components of the building. (i.e. beam, rafter, or joist.)
(4) Room arrangement. In a dwelling unit that has more than 1 bedroom, access to any bedroom shall not be through another bedroom or a bathroom. The occupants of each bedroom must have access to a bathroom without going through another bedroom. Access to bedrooms and bathrooms shall be from within the dwelling unit.
(5) Kitchens. All dwelling units must have a kitchen. All kitchens shall have adequate lighting and ventilation. Except in efficiencies, food shall not be prepared or cooked in any room used for sleeping purposes. A kitchen must have a range or similar device designed for cooking food, and a refrigerator and storage facilities for food and utensils. The range and refrigerator may be provided by the owner or the tenant.
(6) Cellars. No part of a cellar shall be used as habitable space unless approved by the Housing Board of Appeals based on a city inspection report showing that the following standards have been met:
(a) The space has windows for natural light and ventilation which meets the requirements of section 8:502 .
(b) All required light and ventilation openings shall be located entirely above the grade of the adjoining ground, or shall have a window well.
(c) Sleeping areas have an emergency escape window or door which meets the requirements of section 8:504 .
(d) In multiple dwelling, there is an approved second exit.
(e) Stairways to the grade floor or grade shall comply with this code.
(f) The space is weatherproof and draft tight.
(g) The space is dry and free of mold.
(h) Insulation is provided on the inside of exterior walls at least equals R-11. However, if the insulation cannot be measured a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained at all locations 3 feet above the floor and 6 inches from the exterior wall.
(i) The space is provided with adequate heat. A return air system is required if the heat is provided by a forced air furnace.
(j) There shall be a continuous finished ceiling.
(k) It has electrical outlets meeting requirements for new units.
(l) There are operable smoke detectors where required.
(m) At least 80% of the required floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least 6 feet 8 inches. The remainder of the required floor area may be not less than 6 feet in height. Pipes, ducts, and beams closer than 3 feet to one another, outside to outside, shall be measured at 1 lowest dimension.
(n) Openings to habitable space shall be at least 6 feet 2 inches high and 22 inches wide. Height of the opening shall be measured at the midpoint.
(o) There is 1 hour fire rated wall between the habitable space and gas or oil fired heating and water heating appliances of other units. Said appliances must have adequate makeup air as defined by the mechanical code. Ducts penetrating the fire suppression wall do not require fire dampers.
(p) The space meets all standards for habitable basement space specified in subsections (3) and (7).
(q) The building sanitary sewer is cleaned on a regular basis, at least once every 3 years. Proof of the most cleaning shall be maintained by the owner or manager.
(r) There is not evidence of present dampness or flooding within the past 5 years.
(s) A radon test, conducted by an independent accredited contractor, indicates acceptable levels of radon.
If the cellar floods, the drainage shall be corrected immediately and the damage repaired. If the cellar floods more than 2 times in 5 years, the certificate of occupancy shall be suspended for the cellar until evidence is submitted that the cause of flooding has been corrected. The owner of flooded cellar space must pay reasonable damage and relocation costs including rent increases. This subsection shall not be applicable to flooding caused by the city sewer mains or by fire fighting. (7)
Basement. No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
(a) The floor and exterior walls are dampproofed as necessary to prevent leakage of underground and surface runoff water.
(b) Natural light and ventilation is provided to meet the requirements of section 8:502 .
(c) All required light and ventilation openings shall be located entirely above grade of the ground adjoining such window area or shall have an approved window well.
(d) Inside stairs in multiple dwellings shall have a rated enclosure at the grade floor.
(e) There is a 1-hour fire separation from gas/oil fired heating and hot water appliances which serve other units within the building. Said heating and hot water appliances must have adequate outside makeup air as defined by the Mechanical Code. Ducts penetrating the fire suppression wall do not require fire dampers.
(8) Security. All individual dwelling units and rooming units other than owner-occupied dwelling units shall be equipped with the following minimum security devices:
(a) All windows and doors to the exterior of a dwelling unit shall have locking devices.
(b) All swinging exterior doors which are at grade or otherwise accessible from the exterior of the dwelling unit shall have deadbolt locks meeting the following specifications:
(1) A lock shall have a 1 inch minimum throw. Locks installed before February 24, 1983 may have a ⅝ inch throw, unless they are replaced.
(2) A lock shall be so constructed that the bolt shall be retracted by the action of a single inside knob, thumb turn, or lever.
(3) A lock must be capable of being deadlocked (not spring loaded) from the interior and by an exterior key or combination device.
Exception: Fire escape doors do not require an exterior key or combination device.
(4) The strike plate shall be securely attached to the frame of the doorway. For strike plates installed or replaced after February 24, 1983, the strike plate shall be attached by wood screws a minimum of 2 inches in length, if the frame is made of wood.
(c) Exterior doors and dwelling unit doors shall not be equipped with locks which require a key for operation from the side from which exit is to be made.
(d) All double-hung windows must be equipped with sash locks securely attached to the inner window frame by screws a minimum of ¾ of an inch in length. Double hung windows which are at ground level or otherwise reasonably accessible from the exterior shall also be equipped with steel pin locks or other window vent locks of sufficient strength and quality to require the window to be broken to permit entry. The pins (1 per window) for such locks shall be secured to the window frame by a chain. The pins shall be insertable into holes drilled at a slight downward angle through the inner frame and halfway into the outer frame. There shall be a second hole drilled approximately 6 inches higher to permit the window to be secured in an open position. If window vent locks are used, they shall be capable of locking the window in the closed position and/or locking the windows so that it may not be opened further than 6 inches to allow ventilation. These locks shall be affixed to the window so its parts cannot be lost or misplaced. The pins or locks shall not require the use of a tool or key for locking or unlocking. Locks shall be capable of being released from the interior to allow full ventilation.
(e) Sliding windows and doors at ground level or otherwise reasonably accessible from the exterior must be equipped with a rod at least ⅝ inch in width or diameter and of such a length as to prevent the window or door from being opened when the rod is laid in the lower track. An integral slide-type lock with positive stops can be substituted for the dowel bar. Where the sliding portion of the window or door is on the outside, there shall be a pin or other locking device installed such that the door or window may not be opened or removed when in the closed and locked position.
(f) Aluminum framed windows for which pins or metal locks cannot be used may have another type of lock devices as permitted by regulations adopted by the Building Official.
(g) Casement type steel windows at grade or otherwise reasonably accessible from the exterior shall be equipped with a steel latch in good repair. Wood casement windows shall be equipped with a hardened steel slide bolt or a steel latch lock in good repair. Wood casement windows over 4 feet high shall be provided with 2 such latching devices spaced at least 2 feet apart.
(h) Every principal entrance door which does not contain a window or have a side light shall be equipped with a wide angle peephole door viewer.
(i) Beginning January 1, 1991, doors to the exterior of a dwelling or rooming unit (except for sororities, fraternities, ICC co-ops, and state licensed and inspected group homes) must be equipped with a chain lock, slide bolt or similar privacy device which can only be activated or released from the interior of the unit.
(9) Recreation rooms. Attics, cellars and basements which do not meet the size requirements of this section or the additional requirements of subsections (6) and (7) may be used for recreational purposes.