§ 37-141. Minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities.

(a)

No person may occupy as owner or occupant or let to another for occupancy, a dwelling or dwelling unit for the purposes of living, sleeping, bathing, cooking or eating therein, which does not comply with this article. Furthermore, no person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any space in a residential building unless it is clean, sanitary, fit for human occupancy, complies with the requirements of the building code (article II of chapter 35) and the zoning code (chapter 22) and the occupancy is limited to the maximum permitted by said codes.

(b)

Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the building inspector.

(c)

Every dwelling unit shall contain, within a room which affords privacy to a person within the room, a bathtub or shower in good working condition, lavatory and water closet and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the building inspector.

(d)

Every kitchen sink, lavatory basin, and bathtub or shower required under subsections (b), (c) and (e) of this section shall be properly connected with both hot and cold water lines.

(e)

Every dwelling shall have supplied water-heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot water lines required under subsection (d) of this section, and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At no time shall the water temperature available at any kitchen sink, lavatory basin, or shower exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

(f)

Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions.

(g)

Every bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

(h)

Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition.

(i)

All spaces used or intended to be used for food preparation shall contain suitable space and equipment to store, prepare and serve foods in a sanitary manner. There shall be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of garbage and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage when necessary.

(j)

The owner of any dwelling unit who provides heat shall have a heating system that is able to maintain 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius) at any time of the day or night and any day of the year with all windows and doors closed.

(k)

Every lavatory, bathroom, kitchen or kitchenette, dining room, laundry room, furnace room shall contain at least one approved ceiling- or wall-type electric light fixture equipped with sufficient lamps or tubes to provide no less than five foot candles at floor level at center of room.

(l)

Flammable liquids storage prohibited. No dwelling, multifamily dwelling, dwelling unit, shall be located within a building containing any establishment which handles, dispenses, or stores flammable liquids with a flash point of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) or lower.

(m)

Every door, window, sliding door, equipment and facilities shall be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Exceptions:

(1)

Air conditioners may be disconnected during the months of November through March.

(2)

Heating systems may be turned off during the months of June through August when the weather allows the dwelling to reach 67 degrees.

(3)

Rooms and equipment with set hours of operation, used for special events, or seasonal use.

(n)

No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment, or utility which is required under this ordinance to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling, dwelling unit or lodging room let or occupied by him/her except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs are in process, or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by an authorized inspector.

(Comp. Ords. 2009, § 4.36)