Section 27-2059. Lighting and ventilation of living rooms in converted dwellings  


Latest version.
  • a. Required windows. Except as  provided  in  subdivision  c,  every living room in a converted dwelling shall have at least one window
      opening on:
        (1) A street,
        (2)  A  yard  or  outer  court  which  complies with the provisions of
      section one hundred seventy-two of the multiple dwelling law, or
        (3) An inner court or shaft with minimum  dimensions  of  three  feet,
      nine inches in width and eight feet in length.
        For  a  room  located  on  the top story, a skylight of the dimensions
      required in subdivision b may be substituted for a window.
        b. Size of windows. (1) The total area of  all  windows  in  the  room
      shall be at least one-tenth the floor area of such room.
        (2)  Every required window or skylight shall be at least twelve square
      feet, except that if the total area of windows in the room is one-eighth
      of the floor area this requirement shall not apply.
        (3) At least one-half of every required window shall open. One-half of
      the skylight shall have ventilating openings, unless (a) the skylight is
      equipped with a minimum of one hundred and forty-four square  inches  of
      ventilation,  and  (b) there is at least one window in the room, and (c)
      the combined glazed  area  of  the  skylight  and  window  is  at  least
      one-eighth of the floor area.
        (4)  The  top  of  every  required window shall be at least seven feet
      above the floor, except that on the top story it shall be a  minimum  of
      six feet above the floor.
        c.  Noncomplying  rooms.  (1)  A  room  which is noncomplying with the
      minimum room size requirements of subdivision b of  section  27-2074  of
      article four of this subchapter or with the requirements of subdivisions
      a  and  b  of this section may not be occupied unless it has a single or
      unbroken opening of not less than thirty-two and  one-half  square  feet
      into  an  immediately  adjoining  room. Such adjoining room shall have a
      window on a street or a yard  which  complies  with  the  provisions  of
      section  one  hundred  seventy-two  of the multiple dwelling law, except
      that if the dwelling is two stories or less in  height,  the  window  of
      such  adjoining room may open on an outer court or a court not less than
      four feet in width extending from street to yard.
        (2) No room may be subdivided in any  manner  unless  each  subdivided
      portion  meets the requirements of paragraph one of this subdivision, or
      of subdivision a of this section.