Wis. Admin. Code Department of Administration Adm 92.04 - Decent, safe, and sanitary housing
(1) PURPOSE. The
following minimum housing standards are to assure that housing quality is
adequate for the protection of public health, safety and welfare. They shall be
applicable for all dwellings selected for comparable replacement housing
payment determinations, referrals to displaced persons and to which persons
move.
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. A
decent, safe and sanitary dwelling conforms with applicable provisions for
existing structures established under state or local building, plumbing,
electrical, housing and occupancy codes and similar ordinances or regulations,
and meets the following minimum requirements:
(a)
Water. A dwelling shall
have a continuing and adequate supply of water suitable for drinking.
(b)
Kitchen. A dwelling
shall have a room or portion of a room where food is normally prepared and
cooked and is equipped with:
1. A kitchen sink
in good working condition, properly connected to an approved water system with
sufficient hot and cold water, and to an approved sewer system.
2. Cabinets or shelves for the storage of
eating, drinking and cooking equipment and utensils, and food that does not
ordinarily require refrigeration for safekeeping. The cabinets or shelves shall
be of sound construction with surfaces that are easily cleaned and have no
toxic or noxious effect on food.
3.
Sufficient space and utility service connections for installation of a stove
and refrigerator.
(c)
Heating system. A dwelling shall have a safe, good working and
properly installed heating system capable of heating all habitable rooms to
approximately 70° F. Unvented fuel-fired flame space heaters and furnaces
shall be prohibited. Portable electric heaters approved under appropriate local
and state codes are acceptable.
(d)
Bathroom facility. A dwelling shall contain the following:
1. A private, nonhabitable room with a
properly working flush toilet connected to a water system with sufficient
water, and to an approved sewer system.
2. A room with a lavatory sink. A sink may be
in the same room as a toilet. If a sink is located in a room other than the one
with a toilet, the toilet shall be near a door leading directly into the room
with a sink. A sink shall be in good working condition, properly connected to
an approved water system with sufficient hot and cold water, and to an approved
sewer system.
3. A private room
with a bathtub or shower. A bathtub or shower may be in the same room as a
flush toilet, a room with a lavatory sink, or in another room and shall be
connected to an approved water system with sufficient hot and cold water, and
to an approved sewer system.
(e)
Electric service. A
dwelling unit and public and common areas shall be supplied with electric
service, wiring, outlets and fixtures which are properly installed, and
maintained in good and safe working condition. The service capacity and the
number of outlets and fixtures shall be as follows:
1. A habitable room shall have a minimum of 2
floor or wall outlets.
2. A water
closet room, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room, dining room, kitchen, and
public hall shall have at least one ceiling or wall electric light
fixture.
3. Light switches in a
room or passage shall be conveniently located to light the area
ahead.
4. Public halls and
stairways in a multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted at all
times.
(f)
Structurally sound.
1. A
foundation, roof, exterior wall door, skylight and windows shall be
weathertight, waterproof, dampproof, and together with floors, interior walls
and ceilings, be structurally sound and in good repair without visible evidence
of structural failure or deterioration.
2. A dwelling, multiple dwelling, rooming
house, other building or accessory structure and premises shall be maintained
to prevent and eliminate rodents.
3. A foundation, roof, floors, exterior and
interior walls, ceilings, inside and outside stairs, porches and all
appurtenances shall be safe and capable of supporting a normal load. Inside and
outside stairs shall have uniform risers and treads. Stairways shall have
structurally sound handrails.
4.
Plumbing fixtures and water pipes shall be properly installed and maintained in
a good, sanitary working condition.
5. Toilet room, bathroom and kitchen floor
surfaces shall be impervious to water to permit maintenance of a clean and
sanitary condition.
6. Gas burning
equipment and pipes, water and waste pipes, toilets, sinks, lavatories,
bathtubs, shower and catch basins, vents, chimneys, flues, smoke pipes and
other facilities, equipment or utilities in a dwelling, shall be maintained in
a safe, satisfactory working condition.
(g)
Light and ventilation.
1. Habitable room. A habitable room shall
have at least one openable window or skylight facing outside. The minimum
window or skylight area shall be at least 8% of the floor area of a
room.
2. Bathroom. A bathroom or
toilet room shall comply with the requirement for a habitable room. A window or
skylight may be omitted when the room is equipped with artificial lighting and
adequate ventilation.
(h)
Number of exits - means of
escape. In a dwelling of more than 2 rooms, bedroom and living room
areas shall have at least 2 means of escape with at least one door or stairway
providing a means of unobstructed travel to the outside at street or ground
level. Bedroom and living room areas may not be accessible by only a ladder or
folding stairs, or through a trap door.
(hm)
Alternate means of
escape. A second means of escape shall be either:
1. A door or stairway providing a means of
unobstructed travel to the outside at street or ground level, or
2. An outside window operable from the inside
without the use of tools and providing a clear opening of not less than 20
inches in width, 24 inches in height, and 5.7 square feet in area. The window
bottom may not be more than 44 inches above the floor.
a. Exception no. 1. A second means of escape
shall not be required when the room has a door leading directly outside to
grade.
b. Exception no. 2. A
second means of escape shall not be required when a building is protected
throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
c. Exception no. 3. A second means of escape
from a second or higher story dwelling may be directly through a common
corridor provided the corridor has at least 2 means of escape.
(ht)
Prohibited
path. A required path of travel to the outside from a room may not be
through another room or apartment not under the immediate control of the
occupant of the first room, nor through a bathroom or other space subject to
locking.
(i)
Habitable
floor space. A dwelling unit shall have at least 150 square feet of
habitable floor space for the first occupant and at least 100 square feet, 70
square feet for a mobile home, for each additional occupant. In addition:
1. The floor space shall be divided into
rooms and bedrooms to be adequate for a displaced person. No more than 2
persons may occupy a bedroom of less than 100 square feet. Children of opposite
sex over age 7 may not be required to share a bedroom;
2. The ceiling height of any habitable room
shall be at least 7 feet, except that in a habitable room with a sloping
ceiling at least one half of the floor area shall have a ceiling height of at
least 7 feet. The floor area of the room may not include that part of a room
where the ceiling height is less than 5 feet;
3. Space located below grade may not be used
as a habitable room unless:
a. The floor and
the walls below grade are waterproof and dampproof;
b. The minimum window area shall be equal to
that under par. (g) 1. and shall be within properly drained window wells when
located below grade;
c. The total
openable window area shall be at least equal to that as specified under par.
(hm) 2., except when there is adequate ventilation and humidity
control.
(j)
Barrier-free. A dwelling and access to the dwelling shall be
free of barriers for a person or family member with a physical
disability.
(k)
Premises. A dwelling site shall be graded, well drained and
maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe condition, and located in an area not
subject to adverse environmental conditions as determined by the
agency.
(3) SLEEPING
ROOM. The requirements for a sleeping room shall be as specified under sub. (2)
(a), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (hm), (ht), (j), (k), and have the following:
(a) At least 100 square feet of habitable
floor space for the first occupant and 50 square feet of habitable floor space
for each additional occupant;
(b)
Access to a private lavatory, bath and toilet facility.
(4) INSPECTION. An agency shall promptly
inspect a replacement dwelling to ascertain whether it meets the requirements
of this section.
(5) HABITABLE
ROOM. A habitable room is a room used for sleeping, living, or dining, but
excludes closets, kitchens, pantries, bath or toilet rooms, service rooms,
hallways, stairways, laundries, storage spaces, cellars, utility rooms, and
similar spaces.
Notes
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No prior version found.