Living Rooms

Par. 1. - In tenement houses hereafter erected no room in the basement or cellar shall be occupied for living purposes, unless all of the following conditions are complied with: -

Height Of

Par. 2. - (1.) Such room shall be at least eight and one half feet high in every part from the floor to the ceiling.

Water-closets

Par. 3. - (2.) There shall be appurtenant to such room the use of a separate water-closet, constructed and arranged as required by section sixty-nine.

Window Openings

Par. 4. - (3.) Such room shall have a window or windows opening upon the street, an alley or open passageway not less than fifteen feet in width, a railroad right of way, cemetery or public park or upon a yard or court. The total area of windows in such room shall be at least one eighth of the floor area of the room, and one half of the sash shall be made to open full width, and the top of each window shall be within six inches of the ceiling.

Damp-proof Walls and Floors

Par. 5. - (4.) The floor of such room shall be damp-proof and waterproof, and all walls surrounding such room shall be damp-proof.

Sleeping Rooms

Par. 6. - No room on any floor of any house or building now existing or hereafter erected, which floor is in whole or in part below the highest point of the curb of a public street or way in front and within twenty-five feet of the outside wall, and no room on any floor thereof, which floor is in whole or in part below the highest point of the ground adjacent to such building and within fifteen feet thereof, shall be occupied for sleeping purposes unless all of the following conditions are complied with: -

To Abut on Outside Wall

Par. 7. - (a.) Such room shall on at least one side abut on an outside wall of said building for a space of at least seven feet.

Windows, Area and Exposure

Par. 8. - (b.) Such room shall have a window or windows opening directly upon an open space not less than fifteen feet square, and open from the ground to the sky without obstruction; such window or windows shall have a total area of not less than ten square feet and not less than one eighth of the floor area of said room, and both halves of the sash of each window shall be made to open to their full width, and the top of each window shall be within six inches of the ceiling.

Par. 9. - (c.) At least sixty per cent of the area of any such room shall be above the level of the highest point of the ground within fifteen feet of the outside wall or walls of said room and in which the windows above required are situated.

Floors and Walls to be Waterproof

Par. 10. - (d.) The floor of such room and all walls surrounding such room shall be damp-proof and waterproof.

Height Of

Par. 11. - (e.) Such room shall be at least eight feet six inches in height in every part, from floor to ceiling: provided, that in tenement houses erected prior to the first day of August, nineteen hundred and seven, and in other houses and buildings erected prior to the first day of June, nineteen hundred and fourteen, it shall be sufficient if said room is seven feet in height over at least four fifths of its area.

Water-closets - Construction, Arrangement. Par. 12. - (/.) There shall be appurtenant to such room a water-closet constructed and arranged as required by section sixty-nine, and used solely by the occupants of said room or by the household of which said occupants are members.

Sleeping Rooms

Par. 13. - (g.) No such room shall be occupied for sleeping purposes without a permit from the board of health, such permit to be posted in a conspicuous place in the main room of the apartment. A record of all such permits shall be kept in the office of the board of health.

Requirements when Exempted

Par. 14. - (h.) Whenever basement rooms which do not comply with all the technical requirements of this act are, in the opinion of the board of health, supplied with sufficient light and ventilation and are suitable rooms for living and sleeping purposes, the board, after an inspection of the premises and a report in writing as to the area, capacity and other conditions, may issue a certificate to the owner of the building stating that, in the opinion of the board, such rooms are fit to be occupied for living and sleeping purposes. The issue of the said certificate shall operate as an exemption from the technical requirements of this section in all the particulars set forth in said certificate: provided, that said certificate is kept at all times posted in a conspicuous place in such room. A file and record of all such reports and certificates shall be kept in the office of the board of health. Said board may revoke the certificate if such room, in its opinion, ceases to be suitable for the purposes named in the certificate. [1914, c. 628, sect. 1; 1915, c. 346, Special Act.]