Cal. Civ. Code § 20.21
General requirement
Operative Text
Tenement, lodging and boarding houses shall be provided with adequate and sanitary toilet facilities for the disposal of the excreta of the occupants but the facilities may not be located in a room used for living or sleeping purposes or in which food is prepared or handled.
Under 28 Pa. Code § 20.21, tenement, lodging, and boarding houses are required to have toilet facilities that are both adequate in number and sanitary in condition for the people living there. The rule also restricts where those facilities may be placed: they cannot be located in any room used for living, sleeping, food preparation, or food handling. This provision establishes a baseline sanitation standard tied directly to the physical layout of the building.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of tenement, lodging, and boarding houses subject to 28 Pa. Code § 20.21 generally ensure that toilet facilities are sufficient in number to serve all occupants and are maintained in a sanitary condition. Compliant operators also verify that no toilet fixture is situated within a room designated or used for sleeping, living, cooking, or food service. Routine inspections of the building's layout and plumbing conditions are a common part of maintaining compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 28 Pa. Code § 20.21, occupants of tenements, lodging houses, and boarding houses have a right to toilet facilities that are adequate and sanitary, and those facilities must not be placed in rooms where people sleep, live, or handle food. If toilet facilities appear insufficient, unsanitary, or improperly located, tenants may document the conditions and consider reporting the issue to the local municipal or county health department responsible for enforcing this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Pennsylvania can also help occupants understand what options may be available when these baseline sanitation standards are not met.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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