Sacramento Municipal Code Art. V Space and Occupancy Standard

All buildings shall be located with respect to property lines and to other buildings on the same property as required by the California Building Code. Each dwelling unit and each guest room in a dwelling or a lodging house shall have access to a passageway, not less than three feet in width, leading to a public street or alley. Each apartment house or hotel shall have access to a public street by means of a passageway not less than five feet in width. (Ord. 2009-014 § 2; Ord. 2004-008 § 5; prior code § 49.05.501)

Interior lots occupied by buildings within the scope of this chapter shall have not more than fifty (50) percent of the lot in occupied space. Corner lots used for such buildings shall have not more than seventy-five (75) percent of the lot occupied space. Where housing units are on a floor above the first floor, roof area at or below the floor level of the housing units need not be considered as occupied space. (Prior code § 49.05.502)

Sections 8.100.270 to 8.100.290 of this chapter, inclusive, shall apply to yards and courts having required windows opening therein. (Prior code § 49.05.503)

Every yard shall be not less than three feet in width for one-story and two-story buildings. For buildings more than two stories in height the minimum width of the yard shall be increased at the rate of one foot for each additional story. Where yards completely surround the building, the required width may be reduced by one foot. For buildings exceeding fourteen (14) stories in height, the required width of yard shall be computed on the basis of fourteen (14) stories. (Prior code § 49.05.504)

Every court shall be not less than three feet in width. Courts having windows opening on opposite sides shall be not less than six feet in width. Courts bounded on three or more sides by the walls of the building shall be not less than ten (10) feet in length unless bounded on one end by a street or yard. For buildings more than two stories in height the court shall be increased one foot in width and two feet in length for each additional story. For buildings exceeding fourteen (14) stories in height, the required dimensions shall be computed on the basis of fourteen (14) stories.

Adequate access shall be provided to the bottom of all courts for cleaning purposes. Every court more than two stories in height shall be provided with a horizontal air intake at the bottom not less than ten (10) square feet in area and leading to the exterior of the building unless abutting a yard or public space. The construction of the air intake shall be as required for the court walls of the building, but in no case shall be less than one-hour fire-resistive. (Prior code § 49.05.505)

Eaves, cornices, unroofed landings, porches and stairs may project into any required yard as permitted by the California Building Codes based on occupancy classification. (Ord. 2009-014 § 2; prior code § 49.05.506)

Habitable spaces, laundry rooms, hallways, bathrooms and water closet compartments shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet, except for habitable spaces created in existing basements. The ceiling height for habitable spaces created in existing basements shall be as specified in the CRC, Appendix J.

If any room in a building has a sloping ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in only one-half the area thereof. No portion of the room measuring less than five feet from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof. 8.100.300

If any room has furred ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height is required in two-thirds the area thereof, but in no case shall the height of the furred ceiling be less than seven feet. (Ord. 2016-0052 § 10; Ord. 2014-0001 § 12; Ord. 2011-026 § 9; Ord. 2004-008 § 6; prior code § 49.05.507)

No habitable room shall be less than seven feet in any dimension and no water closet space less than thirty (30) inches in width and shall provide a clear space in front of the water closet not less than twenty-four (24) inches. (Prior code § 49.05.510)

A. Every space intended for human occupancy shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings. The minimum net glazed area shall not be less than eight percent of the floor area of the room being served.

B. The minimum openable area to the outdoors shall be four percent of the floor area being served. (Ord. 2009-014 § 2; prior code § 49.05.511)

Required windows shall open directly onto a street or public alley or a yard or court located on the same lot as the building.

Exception: Required windows may open into a roofed porch where the porch:

• 1. Abuts a street, yard, or court;
• 2. Has a ceiling height of not less than seven feet; and
• 3. Has the longer side at least sixty-five (65) percent open and unobstructed.

A required window in a service room may open into a vent shaft which is open and unobstructed to the sky and not less than four feet in least dimension. No vent shaft shall extend through more than two stories.

For the purpose of determining light and ventilation requirements, any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or twenty-five (25) square feet, whichever is greater. (Prior code § 49.05.512)

Ventilation systems in existing structures shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable laws in effect at the time of permitted construction or shall be in compliance with current California Code requirements.

Rooms containing bathtubs, showers, spas, and similar bathing fixtures shall be mechanically ventilated in accordance with the California Mechanical Code. Exception: rooms containing bathtubs, showers, spas, and similar bathing fixtures in existing structures shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable laws in effect at time of permitted construction or shall be in compliance with current California Code requirements. (Ord. 2009-014 § 2; prior code § 49.05.513)

All public hallways, stairs, and other exitways shall be adequately lighted at all times in accordance with the California Building Code. (Ord. 2004-008 § 7; prior code § 49.05.514)

Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a water closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub or shower. (Prior code § 49.05.515)

Where private water closets, lavatories, and baths are not provided, there shall be provided on each floor for each sex at least one water closet and lavatory and one bath accessible from a public hallway. Additional water closets, lavatories, and baths shall be provided on each floor for each sex at the rate of one for every additional ten (10) guests, or fractional number thereof, in excess of ten (10). Such facilities shall be clearly marked for "Men" or "Women." (Prior code § 49.05.516)

Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen. Every kitchen shall be provided with a kitchen sink. No wooden sink or sink of similarly absorbent material shall be permitted. (Prior code § 49.05.517)

All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to a sanitary sewer or to an approved private sewage disposal system. All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to an approved system of water supply and provided with hot and cold running water, except water closets shall be provided with cold water only. (Prior code § 49.05.518)

Walls and floors of water closet compartments except in dwellings shall be finished in accordance with Section 807 of the California Building Code. Water closet compartment in dwellings shall be finished with approved nonabsorbent materials. (Ord. 2004-008 § 8; prior code § 49.05.519)

Every water closet, bathtub, or shower required by this chapter shall be installed in a room that will afford privacy to the occupant. A room in which a water closet is located shall be separated from food preparation or storage rooms by a tight-fitting door. (Ord. 2004-008 § 9; prior code § 49.05.520)

All sanitary facilities shall be installed and maintained in safe and sanitary condition and in accordance with all applicable laws. (Prior code § 49.05.521)

In the event that the standards prescribed by Sections 8.100.240 to 8.100.290 of this chapter shall conflict in a given case with minimum standards contained in the zoning regulations of the city, the latter shall prevail. (Prior code § 49.05.522)