RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY STANDARDS

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland pt. THREE, pt. IIIC, tit. IX, ch. 369

in effect

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.01 Requirements for Habitable Rooms

§ 369.01 Requirements for Habitable Rooms Every dwelling unit shall conform to the following standards: (a) Every dwelling unit shall contain at least one (1) room which shall have not less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet of habitable floor area. However, any room used for both living and cooking, or both living and sleeping, or for living, cooking and sleeping purposes shall have not less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet of habitable floor area. (b) No portion of any room which is less than seven (7) feet in width shall be included in determining habitable floor area. (c) All habitable rooms shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than six (6) feet, nine (9) inches, provided that rooms with sloping ceilings shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than six (6) feet, nine (9) inches in at least one-half (1/2) of their habitable floor area. In determining the habitable floor area of rooms with sloping ceilings, all portions of less than five (5) feet in height shall be disregarded. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.02 Restrictions for Habitable Rooms Below Grade

§ 369.02 Restrictions for Habitable Rooms Below Grade No room which has its floor level below grade shall be occupied as a habitable room unless it conforms to the following standards in addition to all other requirements of this Housing Code for habitable rooms, except that no cellar space shall be used as a habitable room or a dwelling unit: (a) The rooms shall have been designed and constructed, or legally converted to use as a habitable room. (b) The walls and floor enclosing the room shall be maintained in such condition as to prevent the entrance of moisture into the habitable space. (c) All required openings for light and ventilation shall be located entirely above the average adjoining grade. However, such openings may face upon an areaway or window well where the width of such well is not less than the distance from the bottom of the window to the finished grade at such window. (d) The distance from the finished ceiling of such room to the average adjoining finished grade shall not be less than three (3) feet, four (4) inches. (Ord. No. 68-A-67. Passed 4-3-67, eff. 4-5-67)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.03 Required Window Area

§ 369.03 Required Window Area Every habitable room shall be provided with natural light by one (1) or more windows or approved equivalent facing upon an adequate open space. The aggregate glass area of such required windows shall not be less than ten percent (10%) of the habitable floor area of the rooms served by them. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.04 Required Ventilation Area

§ 369.04 Required Ventilation Area Every habitable room shall be provided with natural ventilation by one (1) or more openable windows or approved equivalent. The aggregate openable area of such ventilation openings shall be not less than four percent (4%) of the habitable floor area of the room served by them. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.05 Kitchens, Bathrooms, Water Closet and Urinal Compartments

§ 369.05 Kitchens, Bathrooms, Water Closet and Urinal Compartments Every kitchen, bathroom, water closet and urinal compartment shall be provided with light and ventilation as prescribed for habitable rooms, except that in no case shall the aggregate glass area in each room be less than three (3) square feet. However, where an approved exhaust ventilation system and adequate artificial light are installed in such a manner as to be in operation at all times when any such room is occupied, no natural light or ventilation shall be required. (Ord. No. 68-A-67. Passed 4-3-67, eff. 4-5-67)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.06 Required Sanitary Facilities

§ 369.06 Required Sanitary Facilities (a) Every dwelling unit shall be provided with not less than the following sanitary facilities contained within a room which shall afford privacy to any occupant thereof: (1) A water closet; (2) A bathtub or shower; (3) A lavatory. (b) Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, installed in connection with the main cooking facilities of the dwelling unit. No such kitchen sink shall be placed within any water closet compartment or within any bathroom containing a water closet. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.07 Connection of Fixtures

§ 369.07 Connection of Fixtures (a) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be supplied with running water from the Municipal water supply system. (b) Every dwelling unit shall have an adequate supply of running hot water properly connected to all plumbing fixtures requiring hot water. (c) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be so designed and installed as to prevent contamination of the water supply system. (d) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be connected to a public sanitary sewer, provided that where no public sanitary sewer is available within two hundred (200) feet of a structure, the fixtures therein may be connected to an approved private sewage disposal system. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.08 Rubbish and Garbage Disposal

§ 369.08 Rubbish and Garbage Disposal (a) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his or her rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in approved receptacles, or in other approved rubbish disposal facilities. (b) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall dispose of all his or her garbage and other organic waste, which might provide food for insects and rodents, in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in approved nonleakable, nonabsorbent, garbage storage receptacles or in other approved garbage disposal facilities. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.09 Heating Facilities Required

§ 369.09 Heating Facilities Required Every dwelling unit shall be provided with approved heating facilities capable of maintaining an average temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70° F) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments when the outdoor temperature is minus five degrees Fahrenheit (-5° F), without forcing the facilities to operate in excess of their design capacity. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.10 Flue Connections Required

§ 369.10 Flue Connections Required Every appliance or piece of equipment burning solid, liquid or gaseous fuel, where permitted, shall be connected to an approved smokepipe and flue. However, any appliance approved for use without such connections is exempted from the requirements of this section. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.11 Prohibited Locations of Heating Equipment

§ 369.11 Prohibited Locations of Heating Equipment No heating equipment, including water heaters, which burns solid, liquid or gaseous fuel shall be located in any bedroom, bathroom, toilet room or any room used for sleeping purposes unless specifically approved for such use. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.12 Electrical Facilities Required

§ 369.12 Electrical Facilities Required Every dwelling unit shall be provided with electrical service, outlets and fixtures which shall be installed and maintained so as to be free of any potential source of ignition of combustible material or any potential source of electrical hazard. Such facilities shall be adequate to supply the requirements of lighting, appliances and equipment of the dwelling unit concerned. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.13 General Maintenance Requirements

§ 369.13 General Maintenance Requirements (a) All dwelling structures and all parts thereof, both exterior and interior, shall be maintained in good repair and shall be capable of performing the function for which such structure or part of any feature thereof was designed or intended to be used. (b) All equipment and facilities appurtenant to a dwelling structure or dwelling unit shall be maintained in good and safe working order. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.14 Maintenance of Foundations

§ 369.14 Maintenance of Foundations (a) All foundations of every dwelling structure shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair. (b) All foundations of every dwelling structure shall be maintained in such condition as to prevent the accumulation of moisture within the space enclosed within such foundations. (c) All openings into the foundations of every dwelling structure shall be protected against the entrance of rodents. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.15 Maintenance of Exterior Walls and Roof

§ 369.15 Maintenance of Exterior Walls and Roof (a) All exterior walls of every dwelling, secondary and appurtenant structure shall be maintained weathertight and shall be maintained so as to resist decay or deterioration from any cause. In order to insure maintenance of weathertight exterior walls resistant to decay or deterioration, all such walls shall be painted periodically or otherwise protected in the manner prescribed by regulations adopted as provided in Section 367.10, and in full compliance with such regulations. (b) All roofs of every dwelling structure shall be maintained weathertight, devoid of leaks and shall be equipped with gutter and downspouts connected to a public storm sewer or combined storm and sanitary sewer. (Ord. No. 68-A-67. Passed 4-3-67, eff. 4-5-67)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.16 Maintenance of Interior Walls and Floors

§ 369.16 Maintenance of Interior Walls and Floors (a) All interior walls and floors of every dwelling structure shall be maintained free of holes, large cracks and any loose or deteriorated material. (b) All floors within every bathroom or water closet compartment of a dwelling structure shall be maintained water-resistant. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.17 Infestation by Pests

§ 369.17 Infestation by Pests All dwelling structures and the premises thereof shall be maintained free from sources of breeding, harborage and infestation by insects, vermin or rodents. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.18 Exterior Property Areas

§ 369.18 Exterior Property Areas Exterior property areas of all residential premises shall be kept free of any object, material or condition which may create a health, accident or fire hazard, or which is a public nuisance. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.19 Secondary or Appurtenant Structures

§ 369.19 Secondary or Appurtenant Structures All secondary or appurtenant structures on residential premises such as sheds, barns, garages, fences, etc., shall either be maintained in good repair and free from health, accident and fire hazards or shall be removed from the premises. The roofs thereof shall be equipped with gutters and downspouts connected to a public storm sewer or combined storm and sanitary sewer, excepting, however, that if the roof area served by a specific downspout does not exceed six hundred (600) square feet, measured horizontally, and the drainage does not cause excessive erosion or water damage, or does not create a nuisance on public or private property, this requirement shall be waived. (Ord. No. 68-A-67. Passed 4-3-67, eff. 4-5-67)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.20 Access and Egress

§ 369.20 Access and Egress In a dwelling structure, access to every dwelling unit shall be provided without passing through any part of any other dwelling unit. (Ord. No. 2409-59. Passed 4-4-60, eff. 4-6-60)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 369.21 Condemnation of Premises; Conditions and Notice

§ 369.21 Condemnation of Premises; Conditions and Notice (a) Any dwelling, dwelling unit, building or structure determined by the Commissioner of Housing to have any of the following defects shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation: (1) One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, insanitary, unsafe or vermin-infected that it creates a hazard to the health, welfare or safety of the occupants or of the public; (2) One which lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitary facilities adequate to protect the health or welfare of the occupants or of the public; or (3) One which, because of its general condition or location is insanitary or otherwise dangerous to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of the public. (b) Notice of such condemnation and placarding the condemned dwelling, dwelling unit, building or structure shall be accomplished as provided in this Housing Code. (Ord. No. 68-A-67. Passed 4-3-67, eff. 4-5-67)

Source: City of Cleveland, Ohio, Codified Ordinances and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-46274Fetched: 11/1/2026