Cal. Civ. Code § 20.32
Living and sleeping areas
Operative Text
(a) Rooms for living or sleeping purposes in tenement, lodging or boarding
houses shall have ample ventilation and natural light and shall have windows
with a sash so constructed and maintained that it may be easily opened.
(b) Rooms used for sleeping purposes in any tenement, lodging or boarding
house shall provide the following minimum requirements per occupant:
(1) Rooms with window area in one wall shall have a 12 square feet win-
dow area, a 70 square feet floor area and a 600 cubic feet air space.
(2) Rooms with window area in two walls at right angles to each other
shall have a 10 square feet window area, a 60 square feet floor area and a 560
cubic feet air space.
(3) Rooms with window area in two walls opposite each other shall have
an 8 square feet window area, a 50 square feet floor area and a 520 cubic feet
air space.
(4) Rooms with window area in three or more walls shall have a 6 square
feet window area, a 40 square feet floor area and a 480 cubic feet air space.
20-4
(216908) No. 262 Sep. 96 Copyright 娀 2096 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Ch. 20 TENEMENT, LODGING, BOARDING 28 § 20.33
(c) A cellar, basement or lower story may not be used for living or sleeping
purposes if there is evidence of undue dampness.Under 28 Pa. Code § 20.32, rooms used for living or sleeping in tenement, lodging, or boarding houses must have adequate ventilation, natural light, and windows that can be opened easily. Sleeping rooms must also meet specific minimum standards for window area, floor space, and air volume per occupant, with the exact requirements varying based on how many walls contain windows. Additionally, cellars, basements, or lower stories showing signs of excessive dampness are prohibited from being used as living or sleeping spaces.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of tenement, lodging, or boarding houses subject to 28 Pa. Code § 20.32 generally ensure that every living and sleeping room has functional, openable windows providing natural light and ventilation. Compliant operators also verify that each sleeping room meets the applicable per-occupant minimums for window area, floor area, and air volume based on the number of windowed walls in that room. Below-grade spaces such as cellars or basements are kept out of use for living or sleeping whenever dampness is present.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
28 Pa. Code § 20.32 establishes minimum habitability standards for living and sleeping rooms in tenement, lodging, and boarding houses, including requirements for ventilation, natural light, openable windows, and specific space minimums per occupant. Tenants who believe their sleeping quarters fall short of these standards — for example, rooms that are too small, lack adequate windows, or are located in damp below-grade spaces — may have grounds to raise a habitability concern. General enforcement paths can include contacting local housing or health authorities, raising the violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance.
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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