Light, Ventilation, Space

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances ch. 275, subch. 4

in effect

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-40 Scope; Responsibility.

275-40. Scope; Responsibility. 1. SCOPE. This subchapter governs the minimum conditions and standards for the light, ventilation and space for the occupancy of a structure. All light, ventilation and space conditions shall comply with the requirements of this subchapter insofar as they are applicable. 2. RESPONSIBILITY. The owner or operator of the structure shall provide and maintain light and ventilation and space conditions in compliance with this subchapter. No person may occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy or use any premises which does not comply with this subchapter.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-41 Light.

275-41. Light. 1. GENERAL. All spaces or rooms shall be provided with sufficient light so as not to endanger health and safety. 2. WINDOW AREA. Every habitable room shall have at least one window facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be at least 8% of the floor area of the room. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of the room, the total window area of the skylight shall equal at least 15% of the total floor area of the room. Skylight-type windows existing on and after December 6, 1968, may, if less than 15% of the total floor area, be increased to 15% but no skylight-type window shall be installed in lieu of a window where a skylight has not previously existed. 3. LIGHTING OF COMMON HALLS AND STAIRWAYS. a. Two to 4 Family Dwellings. Public pathways and stairways in buildings accommodating 2, 3 or 4 families shall be provided with convenient light switches controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed. An emergency circuit is not required for this lighting. b. Five or More Families. Public pathways and stairways in buildings accommodating more than 4 families, or more than 30 persons, and every building which accommodates transients shall be lighted at all times with adequate artificial lighting; except that such artificial lighting may be omitted from sunrise to sunset where adequate natural lighting is provided. Whenever the occupancy of the building exceeds 100 persons, the artificial lighting as regulated herein shall be on an emergency circuit. c. Intensity of Light. Adequate lighting system, as herein required, shall mean an intensity of 2-1/2 foot candles at a plane 30 inches above the floor line. The required intensity shall apply to both natural and artificial lighting. 4. OTHER SPACES. All other spaces shall be provided with natural or artificial light of sufficient intensity and so distributed as to permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions and the safe use of the space and the appliances, equipment and fixtures.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-42 Ventilation.

275-42. Ventilation. 1. GENERAL. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient natural or mechanical ventilation so as not to endanger health and safety. Where mechanical ventilation is provided in lieu of natural ventilation, the mechanical ventilation system shall be maintained in operation during the occupancy of any structure or portion thereof. 2. ADEQUATE VENTILATION. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can easily be opened, or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least 50% of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type size, as required in s. 275-41-2, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation. 3. BATHROOMS AND TOILET ROOMS. Every bathroom and toilet room shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in sub. 2 and s. 275-41-2 except that no windows or skylights shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and toilet rooms equipped with an adequate mechanical ventilation system. 4. WINDOW SCREENS. a. Every window required for ventilation, including bath and toilet room, shall be supplied with approved screening having a wire mesh of not less than number 16 covering at least 1/3 of the window area, except that screens shall not be required for window areas above the 5th floor. b. Notwithstanding any provision of par. a, in any rental dwelling unit, every openable window shall have a window screen with a wire mesh of not less than number 16 covering at least 1/3 of the window area. Except as provided in par. d, the property owner shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of window screens. c. Every dwelling having 2 or more basement windows shall have at least 2 window screens which cover the entire window. Where there is only one basement window, it shall be similarly screened. Such screens shall have a wire mesh of not less than number 16. d. In any rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit, the responsibility for installing the screens shall be assumed by the owner, except that in one and 2-family dwellings the tenants shall be responsible for insertion of pre-fit screens. Screens shall be hung not later than June 1 of each year. Tenants in multiple dwellings shall be responsible for the installation of adjustable frame screens when the same are provided by the owner or operator and can be easily installed from the inside.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-43 Dwelling Unit Limitations.

275-43. Dwelling Unit Limitations. Dwelling units shall be separate and apart from each other. Sleeping rooms shall not be used as the only means of access to other sleeping rooms or habitable spaces.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-44 Space Requirements.

275-44. Space Requirements. 1. MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY. a. The maximum occupancy for a one room dwelling unit shall be 2 people. b. No dwelling unit consisting of 2 or more rooms shall be occupied by more occupants than the total number which is calculated on the following basis: TYPE OF ROOM OCCUPANCY SUBTOTAL Kitchen ............................................................... 0 Each habitable room containing less than 70 square feet of floor area ........................ 0 Each habitable room containing at least 70 but less than 100 square feet of floor area ........................................................ 1 Each habitable room containing 100 or more square feet of floor area........................ 2 2. RESTRICTIONS. a. Sleeping in Kitchens or Hallways. No person may use any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space for sleeping purposes. b. Minimum Ceiling Height. At least 1/2 the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet. The floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than 5 feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof. c. Sharing a Toilet and Bath. No dwelling unit may be permitted where occupants share a toilet, bath or lavatory basin with the occupants of another dwelling unit in accordance with s. 275-51-1-b, 2-b and 3-b unless the unit has been created in accordance with the provisions of the code applicable at the time of its creation, and unless the dwelling unit is located in a 2nd class dwelling for which a valid 2nd class dwelling permit was issued in accordance with s. 275-20 and in effect on October 20, 1971.

Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-2/CH275.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026