§ 21. Minimum Standards for Light, Ventilation and Heating.

(a)

Total Window Area. Every habitable room shall have at least one transparent or translucent window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be eight (8%) of the floor area of such room; except that, whenever walls or other portions of structures are located less than three feet from the window and extended to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, the minimum total window area, measured between stops, shall be twelve (12%) per cent of the floor area of such a room. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least eight (8%) per cent of the total floor area of such room. Exceptions to the requirements of this Subsection shall be permitted by the Director where the room is air conditioned or mechanically ventilated and adequately lighted in a manner which satisfies the requirements of any other applicable City code.

(b)

Adequate Ventilation. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can be opened easily, or such device as the Director determines will adequately ventilate the room.

(c)

Window Area. The total window area which can be opened in every habitable room shall be equal to at least forty-five (45%) percent of the window area as required in Subsection (a) hereinabove, except where some other device is supplied which the Director determines provides adequate ventilation and lighting.

(d)

Light and Ventilation for Kitchen, Bathroom and Water Closet Compartment. Every kitchen, bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for a habitable room contained in Subsection (a) and (b) hereinabove, provided that an exception to this requirement shall be permitted by the Director where such room is air conditioned or mechanically ventilated and adequately lighted.

(e)

Electrical Service. Every habitable room and kitchen in such dwelling shall contain at least two separate floor or wall-type electrical convenience outlets in addition to an outlet for general illumination or a third electrical convenience outlet. Every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and public hall shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture. Each bathroom or water closet compartment shall also have at least one electrical convenience outlet which may be a part of a wall type fixture. All electrical fixtures, receptacles, outlets, equipment and wiring shall be maintained in good repair and in safe and satisfactory operating condition, and shall be installed and connected to a suitable electric circuit in accordance with the Electrical Code of the City. All bathroom or water closet convenience outlets shall be properly connected to an approved ground fault interrupt device.

(f)

Heating Facilities. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with primary heating facilities which, shall be installed in accordance with the City of Atlanta's Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Code and shall be capable of safely and adequately heating each habitable room, kitchen, bathroom or water closet compartment to a temperature of seventy-two (72°) degrees Fahrenheit in the area three feet above the floor and three feet from the exterior wall when the outside temperature is twenty-two (22°) degrees Fahrenheit.

(1)

The following heating facilities, for the purpose of this Code, shall not be considered a primary heating facility:

a.

open Fireplaces

b.

portable heaters (including electric and liquid fired heaters)

(2)

Gas fired heaters installed in bedrooms or rooms generally kept closed shall be of the vented type and shall be connected to an effective chimney or gas vent and equipped with a 100% safety shut-off device;

(3)

All unvented gas fired room heaters shall be equipped with an oxygen depletion sensitive safety shut-off system. Unvented room heaters shall not be installed in bedrooms or other sleeping rooms;

(4)

All heating equipment shall be listed and installed in accordance with the listing and the manufacturers instructions;

(5)

Whenever the supply of heat from heating equipment is controlled by the owner, operator or person other than the tenant, such person shall supply heat to all occupied dwelling units from September 15th through May 1st of each year in such amounts as is necessary to maintain a minimum temperature of:

68 degrees Fahrenheit from 7:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M.

63 degrees Fahrenheit from 10:30 P.M. to 7:30 A.M.

(g)

Hall and Stairway Lighting. The provisions of the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code of 1981 for existing dwellings are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Code.

(h)

Insect Protection Screens. Every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outdoor space shall be supplied with a fourteen by eighteen inch mesh wire screen or equivalent protective screen; and, with the exception of sliding glass doors, shall possess a selfclosing device consisting of at least a spiral spring. Every window with an opening to outdoor space used or intended to be used for ventilation shall likewise be supplied with adequate screens. Such screens shall not be required for doors or windows in rooms which are air conditioned or mechanically ventilated, nor shall they be required above the fourth floor of a building, unless specifically required by the Director because of insect prevalence.

(i)

Rodent Protection Screens. Every basement or cellar window used or intended to be used for ventilation, and every other opening to a basement which might provide an entry for rodents, shall be supplied with a screen or such other device as will effectively prevent their entrance.

State law reference

Constitutional authority to adopt technical code, Ga. Const. art. IX, § II, ¶ III(a)(12).

Charter reference

Adoption of standard codes of technical regulations by reference, § 2-404.