Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-24

(a) Size:
(1) All habitable space shall have the minimum ceiling height required by the applicable building code at the time of construction or change of occupancy, except that for habitable space under a sloping roof, the minimum height in at least fifty (50) percent of the floor area shall be seven (7) feet, and the area where the ceiling height is less than five (5) feet shall not be considered in computing required floor area.
(2) Every alcove less than sixty (60) square feet in area, except a cooking space or foyer, shall be deemed to be part of a habitable room. The area of the opening in the dividing partition between the alcove and the room shall be at least eighty (80) percent of the wall area of such partition, measured on the alcove side, but not less than forty (40) square feet. The depth of such alcove shall not exceed half its width. The floor area of the alcove shall be added to the floor area of the room in determining light and ventilation requirements for the room. An alcove with an area of sixty (60) square feet or more, but less than the required area of a habitable room, shall be separately lighted and ventilated as required for habitable space.
(b) Basements and cellars:
(1) Rooms providing facilities for recreation and which may also have facilities for incidental food preparation may be located in a cellar or a basement.
(2) Basements may be used as habitable space if the basement complies with all of the following requirements:
a. Windows are provided on at least one (1) wall.
b. The dimension from the wall having the major window area to the opposite wall does not exceed four (4) times the clear height of the basement. (If this dimension is exceeded, the portion of the basement beyond the limiting dimension shall not be used as habitable space.)
(3) Cellars may be used as habitable space providing the cellar complies with all the following requirements:
a. Floor level of habitable space shall be not more than four (4) feet below the average adjoining finished grade.
b. The depth is not more than four (4) times the height.
c. All habitable space in cellars shall be ventilated by mechanical means. The ventilating system shall replace the air in the habitable spaces at least three (3) times per hour. The air supply of said ventilation system shall be from the exterior or may be drawn from the floor above provided that the floor above is occupied by the same tenancy as the cellar.
d. Walls of cellars shall be constructed to prevent condensation forming thereon when the relative humidity in the habitable area is thirty-five (35) percent.
e. Such space conforms to all other requirements for habitable space.
(c) Light and ventilation:
(1) Habitable space shall be provided with natural light through one (1) or more windows, skylights, transparent or translucent panels, or any combinations thereof, that face directly on legal open spaces at least six (6) inches above the adjoining finished grade, or are above a roof. The amount of light required for each room shall be equivalent to that transmitted through clear glass equal in area to eight (8) percent of the floor area of the habitable space.
(2) Habitable space shall be provided with electric light.
(3) Habitable space shall be provided with natural ventilation through operable parts of windows or other openings in exterior walls that face legal open spaces above the adjoining finished grade or above a roof, or through operable parts of skylights, providing total clear ventilation area equal to not less than four (4) percent of the total floor area of each habitable space.
(4) All window sash shall be glazed and provided with suitable hardware for locking and keeping the window in an open position.
(5) Kitchens and bathrooms also may be provided with mechanical ventilation in lieu of or in addition to natural ventilation.
(6) Clothes dryer venting systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall be vented in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, so as not to deposit lint on adjacent properties.
(d) Miscellaneous requirements:
(1) Dwelling units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the dwelling unit.
(2) Sleeping rooms within dwelling units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the sleeping rooms to provide privacy.
(3) Lodging units and boarding units shall be separated from each other and from other spaces outside the lodging units.
(4) A communal kitchen, bathroom or dining room in a lodging house shall be accessible to the occupants sharing such kitchen, bathroom or dining room without going through a dwelling unit or lodging unit of another occupant.