074 of 1998 - Amending Salt Lake City Housing Code0 98-1
0 96-30
SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE
No. 74 of 1998
(Amending the Salt Lake City Housing Code.)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SALT LAKE CITY HOUSING CODE.
WHEREAS, the existing Salt Lake City Housing Code was most recently revised in
September of 1996; and
WHEREAS, upon further review, it is apparent that certain additional modifications
should be made; and
WHEREAS, these proposed revisions to the Housing Code have been reviewed and
approved by the Salt Lake City Housing Advisory and Appeals Board; and
WHEREAS, it appears that these modifications to the Housing Code are in the best
interest of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 18.50.020 B.2 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby
is amended to read as follows:
2. Owner -occupied versus rental properties. Except as specified in
subsection B.3 of this section, the standards of this chapter apply to the interior
and exterior of all buildings, dwelling units and premises which are occupied on a
rental basis. For buildings or dwelling units which are occupied solely by the
owner and the owner's family, all the requirements defined as imminent danger or
hazardous condition situations, and those affecting the exterior of the building and
premises shall apply. Other interior standards do not apply to owner -occupied
dwelling units.
SECTION 2. Chapter 18.50.020 C.4 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
enacted to read as follows:
4. Fail to obey an interpretation, decision or requirement of the
Housing Advisory and Appeals Board within 30 days, unless otherwise noted.
SECTION 3. The list of defined terms contained in Chapter 18.50.030 D of the Salt
Lake City Code shall be and hereby is amended, in part, to read as follows:
"Boarding house" means a building other than a hotel or motel, with three
or more bedrooms where direct or indirect compensation for lodging and/or
kitchen facilities, not located in guest rooms, or meals are provided for boarders
and/or roomers not related to the head of the household by marriage, adoption or
blood. Rentals must be on at least a monthly basis.
"Hall" means a space used for circulating between the rooms of a building
within an individual dwelling unit.
"Hotel/motel room" means a room or combination of rooms (suite) offered
as a single unit for lodging on a daily or weekly basis.
"Rooming house" means a building or group of attached or detached
buildings containing in combination at least three lodging units for occupancy on
at least a monthly basis, with or without board, as distinguished from hotels and
motels in which rentals are generally for a daily or weekly period and occupancy
is by transients.
SECTION 4. The definition of the term "Imminent danger" set forth in Chapter
18.50.030 D of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is amended to delete subparagraph
14 dealing with guardrails or stair railings. In addition, the definition of the term "Substandard
conditions" set forth in Chapter 18.50.030 D of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to add a new subparagraph 36 which reads as follows:
36. Guardrails or handrails in common areas that are missing or cannot
support required loads.
SECTION 5. Chapter 18.50.070 E.2 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
2. Appeals under this subsection shall stay the enforcement of those
items appealed on the notice and order.
SECTION 6. Chapter 18.50.080 C of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
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C. Delivery of notice and order. Notices and orders issued pursuant
to this subsection shall be posted on the building entrance doors and in the
common areas of the building. Notices and orders issued to vacate the premises
shall be posted on all building entrance doors, common areas and on individual
dwelling units. The notice and order shall also be mailed to the owner or the
owner's designated agent by both certified mail, return receipt requested and
ordinary first class mail, postage prepaid, or may be delivered by hand.
SECTION 7. Chapter 18.50.080 E.7 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
7. Appeals under this subsection shall stay the enforcement of those
items appealed on the notice and order.
SECTION 8. Chapter 18.50.130 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
18.50.130 Approval for occupancy.
Following the correction of the deficiencies and prior to persons re-
occupying any residential building or dwelling unit after it has been closed to
occupancy, the housing/zoning officer shall issue an approval for occupancy. If a
notice of deficiency has been filed with the Salt Lake County Recorder's office
pursuant to section 100, a release of the notice shall be recorded with that office.
SECTION 9. Chapter 18.50.140 B of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
B. Exterior surfaces. Exposed materials that require weather
protection and exterior surfaces that are deteriorating shall be repaired to the
extent necessary to stop damage from cold, wind, water, or dampness. The roof
covering and flashing shall form an impervious membrane.
SECTION 10. Chapter 18.50.140 G of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
enacted to read as follows:
G. Exterior Walkways. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways,
parking spaces and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and
maintained free from hazardous conditions.
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SECTION 11. Chapter 18.50.180 D.1 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby are
amended to read as follows:
1. Cooking facilities in dwelling units. Each dwelling unit shall
have a kitchen that supplies:
a. A range with stove top and oven, or in the alternative, a non -
portable cook top and oven. Hot plates, pans, and similar units shall not be
considered as cooking facilities. All cooking appliances shall be maintained in
good working condition.
b. An approved sink, with a minimum dimension of twelve inches by
twelve inches by four inches deep.
c. A minimum of four square feet of counter space.
d. A refrigerator.
SECTION 12. Chapter 18.50.180 D.2.a of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
a. A range with stove top and oven, or in the alternative, a
non -portable cook top and oven. Hot plates, pans and similar units shall
not be considered as cooking facilities and are not allowed. Portable
cooking devices are not allowed in individual rooms.
SECTION 13. Chapter 18.50.180 E of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
enacted to read as follows:
E. Window size alterations. When window size modifications are
necessary to meet light, ventilation or emergency egress, the window shall meet
the most currently adopted Uniform Building Code standard.
SECTION 14. Chapter 18.50.190 B.1.c of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
c. Exterior doors may be used to meet natural ventilation
requirements.
SECTION 15. Chapter 18.50.200 B.2 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
2. Every sleeping room located below the fourth story shall have at
least one openable window or exterior door approved for emergency egress or
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rescue. The opening shall have a minimum of three and one-half square feet of
openable space and clear opening dimensions of at least twenty inches in one
dimension and twenty-four inches in the other dimension. The escape window
must open directly into a yard or exit court, or into a public street or alley. When
windows are provided as a means of emergency egress or rescue, they shall have a
finished sill height of not more than 48 inches. If the distance from the floor to
the window sill is more than 48 inches, a permanent ladder or platform attached to
the wall or floor may be installed to meet the maximum height requirement. The
ladder or platform must be approved by the City.
Exception 1. Where two approved emergency exit doors leading from the sleeping room
to separate exit ways exist and minimum light and ventilation requirements are met, this
subsection does not apply. Emergency exit doors shall open directly to a yard or court, or
may exit through no more than one adjoining room which has a door that leads directly to
a yard or court.
Exception 2. Where minimum light and ventilation and emergency egress
requirements are met, there is no minimum sill height requirement in sleeping
rooms of dwelling units constructed before 1968, which has not been altered from
the original construction.
Exception 3. Sleeping rooms that fail to meet the sill height, window size or net
openable area for the emergency egress provisions of this code may have their
emergency egress deficiencies remedied, provided the rooms meet the required
natural light and ventilation requirements of the housing code, by the installation
of a smoke detector in each of the deficient sleeping rooms and in the hall or
space immediately adjacent to and leading into the sleeping room or area. The
smoke detectors shall be wired directly to the house electrical system and be
provided with a battery back up.
SECTION 16. Chapter 18.50.200 B.3 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and
hereby is amended to read as follows:
3. For windows that are below grade, a window well shall run parallel
to the width of the window and extend at least eighteen inches out from the
exterior face of the building. When the distance from the top of the window well
to its bottom exceeds forty-eight inches, it shall be equipped with an approved
permanently affixed ladder or stairs that are accessible with the window in the
fully open position. Grates are permitted over window wells when hinged away
from the structure and not weighing over fifteen pounds per section of the grate.
SECTION 17. Chapter 18.50.200 B.4 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows;
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4. Bars, grills, grates, or similar devices may be installed on emergency
escapes or rescue windows or doors, provided such devices are equipped with
approved release mechanisms which are operable from the inside of the grate
without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
SECTION 18. Chapter 18.50.200 B.5 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
deleted in its entirety.
SECTION 19. Chapter 18.50.200 C.1 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
1. If there are four or more risers, a handrail shall be required. Two
handrails shall be required when the width of the stairs is forty-eight inches or
more. Stairways less than forty-eight inches in width or stairways serving one
individual dwelling unit in Group R, Division 1 or 3 occupancy, or a Group R,
Division 3 congregate residence may have one handrail. Handrails are not
required for monumental stairs.
SECTION 20. Chapter 18.50.200 C.5 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
5. There shall be no minimum rise or run requirement nor maximum
variation in the rise and run for stairs leading only to mechanical, storage, utility,
and nonhabitable rooms in any residential structure and laundry rooms in
individual dwelling units provided the stairs are structurally sound.
SECTION 21. Chapter 18.50.200 C.7 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
7. Interior and exterior stairs shall have a minimum headroom height
of six feet four inches, except for stairs to mechanical or storage rooms, utility and
non -habitable rooms in any residential structure and laundry rooms in individual
dwelling units, which have no minimum headroom height.
SECTION 22. Chapter 18.50.200 C.11 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be and hereby
enacted to read as follows:
11. Interior stair landings shall have a minimum width of thirty inches
and a minimum length in the direction of travel of thirty inches.
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SECTION 23. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its first
publication.
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this 20 day of October
1998.
IEF ' PUTY ITY ' 1 CORDER
Transmitted to Mayor on October 20, 1998
Mayor's Action: xx Approved Vetoed.
MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FC,P7V1
SeIt Lake City A3torfi:.y a 0£4ce
Dau3 7- 7r - 9i
ATTEST:
CHI r EPUTY CITY RECO' I ER
(SEAL)
Bill No. 74 of 1998.
Published: October 30, 1998
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