Dayton, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 113 (2026) § 113.042
LIGHTING
Operative Text
(A) All enclosed portions of the dwelling unit customarily occupied by human beings shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less than 1/8 of the total floor area, or shall be provided with artificial light. Such openings shall open directly onto a public way or a yard or court. (B) Public hallways, corridors, stairways and other exit facilities shall be adequately lighted. All lighting will follow building code at the time of construction; if no codes were in effect, it will follow general construction practice at the time of construction. (Ord. 2018-18, passed 2-28-2018; Ord. 2019-07, passed 6-11-2019)
Dayton Ch. 113 Rental Dwellings § 113.042 establishes minimum lighting standards for rental dwelling units and shared spaces. Rooms regularly used by occupants must receive natural light through exterior windows or openings sized at least one-eighth of the floor area, or must be supplied with artificial lighting instead. Common areas such as hallways, stairways, and exit corridors must be adequately lit, with the applicable standard tied to the building code or general construction practice in effect at the time the structure was built.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 113.042, compliant rental property operators ensure that each habitually occupied room either has qualifying exterior glazed openings—sized to at least one-eighth of the room's floor area and opening onto a public way, yard, or court—or is equipped with functional artificial lighting. For shared spaces like hallways and stairwells, operators maintain adequate illumination consistent with the building code that governed construction, or with prevailing construction practice if no code applied at that time. Routine property inspections that verify both natural and artificial light sources in all applicable areas are a common practice among operators seeking to stay in compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 113.042 of Dayton's Rental Dwellings code gives occupants a right to adequately lit living spaces and common areas, whether through natural light from properly sized exterior windows or through artificial lighting. If a room regularly used for living lacks sufficient natural or artificial light, or if hallways and stairways are poorly lit, that condition may constitute a code violation. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards can document the conditions, raise the issue in writing with their landlord, or contact the City of Dayton's code enforcement office to request an inspection; tenant-rights organizations in the Dayton area can also help explain 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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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