SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIGHT-HOUSEKEEPING ROOMS.
Los Angeles Municipal Code § 91.8116
in effectSEC. 91.8116. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIGHT-HOUSEKEEPING ROOMS.
(Added by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)
91.8116.1. General. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) This division does not prevent the use of a room as a light-housekeeping room in any building, provided that such room fully complies with the provisions of this section.
A light-housekeeping room is any room which is designed and used both as a sleeping room and for the cooking or preparation of food.
91.8116.2. Special Provisions.
91.8116.2.1. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) Light-housekeeping rooms shall contain not less than 150 square feet in area and shall be occupied by not more than two people. The cooking appliance therein, if any, shall be used solely for the cooking or preparation of meals for consumption by the occupants of the room. The use of cooking appliances, existing in rooms prior to September 20, 1963, shall be in accordance with the provisions of LAMC Subsections 91.8116.2.2 through 91.8116.2.10.
EXCEPTION: A room having a superficial floor area of not less than 120 square feet may be used for light-housekeeping if it is occupied by only one person.
91.8116.2.2. The cooking appliances used therein, if any, shall have no more than two burners. If electric appliances are used, they shall have been tested and approved by the Underwriters Laboratories. If gas appliances are used, they shall have been tested and approved by the American Gas Association.
91.8116.2.3. The installation, maintenance or use of said cooking appliance shall not be hazardous to life, health or property.
91.8116.2.4.1. Said cooking appliance shall rest upon its own legs, or shall be an approved, built-in unit of fixed installation. Said appliance shall be set not closer than six inches from any wall or projection thereof, and shall rest upon an impervious surface.
91.8116.2.4.2. The walls behind and adjacent to said cooking appliance shall be lined or back-flashed with noncombustible material equivalent to 1/4–inch asbestos mill board. The back-flashing shall extend from 12 inches below to 24 inches above the base of the appliance. There shall be clear and unobstructed space of 36 inches above the surface of the cooking appliance.
EXCEPTION: Approved prefabricated kitchen units.
91.8116.2.5.1. Gas-burning appliances shall be connected to the gas supply piping by approved metal piping with an approved gas shutoff valve readily accessible within the room, and maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Plumbing Code.
Electrical appliances and serving circuits shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Electrical Code.
91.8116.2.5.2. Guest rooms, other than those legally converted for light-housekeeping purposes, shall not contain a fuel-gas-burning or electrically energized cooking appliance.
91.8116.2.6. The room shall contain an approved sink with hot and cold running water.
91.8116.2.7. An approved storage cabinet shall be installed in the room. All food, dishes and cooking and eating utensils shall be stored therein when not in use.
91.8116.2.8. The bed in such a room, or any drapes, curtains or other readily combustible material shall be so located that they do not come in contact with the cooking appliances, if any.
91.8116.2.9. Any toilet room opening directly into such a room shall have a tight-fitting door.
91.8116.2.10. An approved method of heating shall be installed in each such room. Cooking appliances shall not be used for the purpose of heating such rooms. No cooking appliance shall be installed within a closet in such a room.
91.8116.3. Bath and Water Closet Facilities. In any building containing six or more light-housekeeping rooms, there shall be one water closet and one bath facility for each five units or fraction thereof. In any building containing five or less light-housekeeping rooms, there shall be one water closet and one bath facility which may be in the same room for each three light-housekeeping units in the building. Such toilet and bath facilities shall be accessible to and from a public hallway.
Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-179307Fetched: 10/24/2026