§ 16.24.400. Occupancy limitations.

A.

Privacy. Dwelling units, hotel units, rooming units, and dormitory units shall be arranged to provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces.

B.

Minimum Room Widths. A habitable space, other than a kitchen, shall not be less than seven feet in any plan dimension. Kitchens shall have a clear passageway of not less than three feet between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.

C.

Minimum Ceiling Heights. Habitable spaces, hallways, corridors, laundry areas, bathrooms, toilet rooms and habitable basement areas shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than seven feet. Exceptions:

1.

In one- and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced not less than four feet on center and projecting not more than six inches below the required ceiling height.

2.

Basement rooms in one- and two-family dwellings occupied exclusively for laundry, study, or recreation purposes, having a ceiling height of not less than six feet eight inches and not less than six feet four inches of clear height under beams, girders, ducts and similar obstructions.

3.

Rooms occupied exclusively for sleeping, study or similar purposes and having a sloped ceiling over all or part of the room, with a clear ceiling height of at least seven feet over not less than one-half of the required minimum floor area. In calculating the floor area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area with a clear ceiling height of five feet or more shall be included.

D.

Bedroom Requirements. Every bedroom shall comply with the requirements of Sections 16.24.400(E) through 16.24.400(I).

E.

Area for Sleeping Purposes. Every bedroom occupied by one person shall contain at least seventy square feet of floor area, and every bedroom occupied by more than one person shall contain at least fifty square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof.

F.

Access from Bedrooms. Bedrooms shall not constitute the only means of access to other bedrooms or habitable spaces and shall not serve as the only means of egress from other habitable spaces.

Exception: Units that contain fewer than two bedrooms.

G.

Water Closet Accessibility. Every bedroom shall have access to at least one water closet and one lavatory without passing through another bedroom. Every bedroom in a dwelling unit shall have access to at least one water closet and lavatory located in the same story as the bedroom or an adjacent story.

H.

Prohibited Occupancy. Kitchens and nonhabitable spaces shall not be used for sleeping purposes.

I.

Other Requirements. Bedrooms shall comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter including, but not limited to, the light, ventilation, room area, ceiling height and room width requirements; the plumbing facilities and water-heating facilities requirements; the heating facilities, electrical receptacle requirements; and the smoke detector and emergency escape requirements.

_____

J.

Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than are permitted by the minimum area requirements of Table 16.24.400.

Table 16.24.400
MINIMUM AREA REQUIREMENTS

SPACE	MINIMUM AREA IN SQUARE FEET
	1—2 occupants	3—5 occupants	6 or more occupants
Living Room	No requirements (a, b)	120	150
Dining Room	No requirements (a, b)	80	100
Kitchen	50	50	60
Bedrooms	Shall comply with Section 16.24.400(E).

 

a. See Section 16.24.400(L) for combined living room/dining room spaces.

b. See Section 16.24.400(K) for limitations on determining the minimum occupancy area for sleeping purposes.

K.

Sleeping Area. The minimum occupancy area required by Table 16.24.400 shall not be included as a sleeping area in determining the minimum occupancy area for sleeping purposes. All sleeping areas shall comply with Section 16.24.400(D).

L.

Combined Spaces. Combined living room and dining room spaces shall comply with the requirements of Table 16.24.400 if the total area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if the space is located so as to function as a combination living room and dining room.

M.

Efficiency Unit. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an efficiency living unit from meeting the following requirements:

1.

An efficiency living unit occupied by not more than two occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than two hundred and twenty square feet. A unit occupied by three occupants shall have a clear floor area of not less than three hundred and twenty square feet. These required areas shall be exclusive of the areas required by subsections (M)(2) and (M)(3) of this section.

2.

An efficiency living unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance, and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than thirty inches in front. Light and ventilation shall be provided in conformance with this chapter.

3.

An efficiency living unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower.

4.

An efficiency living unit shall have a maximum number of occupants of three.

N.

Food Preparation. All spaces to be occupied for food preparation purposes 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 food wastes and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage.

(Ord. BL2001-585 § 1 (part), 2001)