City Code Section
- A. Every habitable room must have at least one window facing directly to an exterior yard or court. The minimum total glass area for each habitable room must be 6.8 percent of the room's floor area, except for basement rooms where the minimum must be five percent. The glazed areas need not be provided in rooms where artificial light is provided capable of producing an average illumination of three foot-candles over the area of the room measured at a height of 30 inches above the floor and the minimum ventilation requirements in Subsection B. below are satisfied.
- B. Except where another approved ventilation device is provided, the total openable window area in every habitable room must be equal to at least one-fortieth (2.5 percent) of the area of the room. The glazed areas need not be openable where the opening is not required for emergency escape and an approved mechanical ventilation system is provided capable of producing 0.35 air changes per hour in the room.
- C. Every bathroom or toilet room or compartment must comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms as required by Subsections 29.30.090 A. and B., except that no window is required in bathrooms or toilet compartments equipped with an approved ventilation system.
- D. Windows in sleeping rooms that are provided to meet emergency escape or rescue requirements described in Subsection 29.30.230 A. must have a sill height of no more than 44 inches above the floor or above an approved, permanently installed step. The step must not exceed 12 inches in height and must extend the full width of the window. The top surface of the step must be a minimum of six feet from the ceiling above the step.
- E. Windows in sleeping rooms that are provided to meet emergency escape or rescue requirements described in Subsection 29.30.230 A. must have a minimum net clear opening of at least 20 inches wide and at least 22 inches high.
- F. Every window required for ventilation or emergency escape must be capable of being easily opened and held open by window hardware. Any installed storm windows on windows required for emergency escape must be easily openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
- G. All windows within 10 feet of the exterior grade that open must be able to be securely latched from the inside as well as be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort. This same requirement applies to all openable windows that face other locations that are easily accessible from the outside, such as balconies or fire escapes, regardless of height from the exterior grade.
- H. Every window must be substantially weather-tight, must be kept in sound condition and repair for its intended use, and must comply with the following:
- 1. Every window sash must be fully supplied with glass windowpanes or an approved substitute without open cracks and holes.
- 2. Every window sash must be in good condition and fit weather-tight within its frames.
- 3. Every window frame must be constructed and maintained in relation to the adjacent wall construction so as to exclude rain as completely as possible and to substantially exclude wind from entering the dwelling.