San Francisco County Municipal Code Ch. 4 Definitions

Sec. 400. General. Sec. 401. Definitions.

SEC. 400. GENERAL. (a) General. For the purposes of this Code, certain words and terms used herein are defined as set forth in this and the following sections of this chapter. Where terms are not defined, they shall have their ordinary accepted meanings within the context with which they are used. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, latest edition, shall be considered as providing ordinary accepted meanings. All words used in the present tense shall include the future. All words in the plural number shall include the singular and all words in the singular number shall include the plural unless the natural construction of the wording indicated otherwise. The word "shall" is mandatory and not permissive. For definitions not indicated herein, see Chapter 2 of the Building Code. (b) Administrative. Whenever any one of the following terms is used it shall mean the corresponding officer, department, board or commission, or agency or authority of the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, hereinafter referred to as the "City": Board of Supervisors, Department of Building Inspection, Police Department and Fire Department. In each case the term shall be deemed to include an employee of any such office or department of the City who is lawfully authorized to perform any duty or exercise any power as their or its

representative or agent. Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," "apartment," "apartment house," "hotel," "guest room," "guest room suite," "premises" or "building" are used in this Code, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any portion thereof." APPROVED. "Approved," when used in connection with any material, type of construction or appliance means meeting the approval of the Director as a result of investigation and tests conducted by an approved agency, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical, health or scientific organizations or agencies. APPROVED AGENCY. "Approved agency" means an established and recognized agency regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, and approved by the Director. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 320-99, App. 11/22/99; Ord. 192-02, App. 9/17/2002; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS. Apartment. "Apartment" means a dwelling unit as defined in this Code. Apartment House. "Apartment house" is any building or portion thereof which contains three or more dwelling units and, for the purpose of this Code, includes residential condominiums. Basement. "Basement" is any floor level below the first story in a building, except that a floor level in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a basement unless such floor level qualifies as a first story as defined herein. Bathroom. A room containing a bathtub, tub or shower compartment; water closet and lavatory or other similar approved facilities provided immediately adjacent thereto. Bay Window. A rectangular, curved or polygonal window, projecting beyond the exterior wall of the building. Building. "Building" shall mean any building or structure, or portion thereof, which is used, designed or intended for residential use, for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes or any combination thereof. Building Code. The San Francisco Building Code, Part II, Chapter I, of the San Francisco Municipal Code. Building (Existing). A building erected prior to the adoption of this Code, or one for which a legal building permit and a "Certificate of Final Completion" has been issued. Building Official. "Building Official" is the Director of the Department of Building Inspection, City and County of San Francisco. The Director is the authorized representative in the enforcement of this Code. Ceiling Height. The distance between the finished floor and the finished ceiling. City. The City and County of San Francisco. Congregate Residence. "Congregate Residence" is any building or portion thereof which contains facilities for living, sleeping and sanitation, as required by this Code, and may include facilities for eating and cooking, for occupancy by other than a family. A congregate residence may be a shelter, convent, monastery, dormitory, fraternity or sorority house but does not include jails, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, or lodging houses. Deterioration. The condition of a building or a portion of a building characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting, or other evidence of physical decay or neglect, or lack of maintenance, or excessive use. Director of the Department of Building Inspection.The Director of the Department of Building Inspection, City and County of San Francisco, sometimes referred to as the Director, who shall herein have charge and control of all matters set forth in this Code. Dormitory. A room occupied by more than two guests. Dwelling. Any building or portion thereof which contains not more than two dwelling units. Dwelling Unit. A "dwelling unit" is any building or portion thereof which contains living facilities, including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation as required by the Code, for not more than one family. Electrical Code. The San Francisco Electrical Code, Part II, Chapter III of the San Francisco Municipal Code. Equivalent Public Way. "Equivalent public way" is approved space on private property complying with all of the following: (1) Connects with boundary street or streets. (2) Is a least 40 feet in width, open to the sky, when the structures served by the equivalent public way are protected throughout with an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system installed in conformance with Chapter 9 of the Building Code. (3) Is accessible to Fire Department vehicles and equipment. (4) Access is recorded as being irrevocable for the life of the structure for which access is required, stating this is a requirement of the City. Exit. As defined in Section 202 of the Building Code. Family. One or more persons related or unrelated, living together as a single integrated household in a dwelling unit. Fire Code. The San Francisco Fire Code Part II, Chapter IV, of the San Francisco Municipal Code.

Fire Hazard or Nuisance. "Fire hazard" shall mean anything or the lack of any equipment or any act, which increases or may cause an increase of the hazard or menace to life or property from fire, explosion or panic to a greater degree than that customarily recognized as normal by persons in the public service of preventing, suppressing or extinguishing fire; or which may obstruct, delay or hinder the saving of life from fire, explosion or panic or may have become the cause of any obstruction, delay, suppression or hindrance, to the prevention or extinguishment of fire. Garage. A building or portion thereof in which a motor vehicle containing flammable or combustible liquids or gas in its tank is stored, repaired or kept, or in which bicycles, scooters, and other personal items used by the tenants of the building or buildings on the premises are stored or kept. Garage, Private. A building or a portion of a building, not more than 1,000 square feet in area, in which motor vehicles, bicycles, scooters, and other personal items used by the tenants of the building or buildings on the premises are stored or kept. Guest Room. A room occupied, or intended, arranged or designed for occupation by one or more guests. Every 100 square feet of superficial floor area in a dormitory is a guest room. A guest is any person paying in money, goods or services for the use of a sleeping facility. Guest rooms with cooking shall have approved kitchen units as set forth in Section 507 of this Code. Guest Room Suite. A contiguous group of two or more habitable rooms, not part of a dwelling unit, having one entry door. Each habitable room within a guest room suite shall individually conform to the requirements set forth in Section 503(b) of this Code. Habitable Space (Room). Any room or space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls, storage or utility space areas are not considered habitable space. Handrail. A rail capable of being readily grasped by the hand to provide support on ramps or stairs. Height of Building. Height of building shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Building Code. Hotel. "Hotel" is any building containing six or more guest rooms, or guest room suites, intended or designed to be used, or which are used, rented or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests. Guest rooms with cooking facilities as defined in Section 507 of this Code located therein are permitted. Hotel does not include any jail, hospital, asylum, sanitarium, orphanage, prison, detention home or other institution in which human beings are housed and detained under legal restraint. Housekeeping Room/Unit with Cooking Facilities. Housekeeping unit or room containing one guestroom with electric cooking facilities, in existence and legalized by permit prior to 1969 in a residential building built before 1960. Kitchen. Any room used, or intended or designed to be used, for cooking, preserving and preparing food. Kitchen, Community. See Section 507 of this Code. Life Hazard. "Life hazard" is any act, condition, or omission or lack of construction, equipment, material or maintenance, that increases or may cause an increase in the menace to life to occupants within a building or structure from fire, explosion, earthquake, panic or structural failure above the level of safety established in this Code. Lodging House. "Lodging house" is any building or portion thereof, containing not more than five guest rooms where rent is paid in money, goods, labor or otherwise. Main Entrance or Exit. "Main entrance or exit" is that entrance from a street, alley or other open space serving as a way of approach to a building to which is apportioned the greater aggregate of the required outside exit width. Mechanical Code. The San Francisco Mechanical Code Part II, Chapter XIV, of the San Francisco Municipal Code. Mechanical Ventilation. The ventilation of any area or space by mechanical means. Mold and Mildew. Any visible or otherwise demonstrable growth of microscopic organisms or fungi (mold or mildew) that feeds on damp conditions in the interior of a residential building, sufficiently chronic or severe to cause a health hazard or damage a residential structure or part thereof, excluding the presence of mold or mildew which is minor in nature caused by inappropriate housekeeping practices or the improper use of natural or mechanical ventilation. Motel. "Motel" shall mean "hotel" as defined in this Code. Municipal Code. The Municipal Code of the City and County of San Francisco. Nuisance. The following shall be defined as nuisances: (1) Any public nuisance known at common law or in equity jurisprudence; (2) Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children, whether in a building or on the premises of a building. This includes open wells, abandoned basements, or excavations; abandoned iceboxes, refrigerators and motor vehicles, or any structurally unsound fences or structures, or lumber, trash, fences, debris, or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors; (3) Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health; (4) Overcrowding a room with occupants; (5) Insufficient ventilation or illumination; (6) Inadequate or insanitary sewage or plumbing facilities; (7) Insanitary conditions or anything offensive to the senses or dangerous to health; (8) Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings; (9) Fire hazard; (10) Substandard building;

(11) Any "apartment," "dwelling unit," "habitable space" or "building" as defined in this Code, which is the subject of a final hazard reduction order under Section 1628 of the San Francisco Health Code, or an emergency order under Section 1630 of the San Francisco Health Code; (12) Mold and mildew as defined by this chapter. Openable Window Area. That portion of a window opening left clear and unobstructed when the window is in an open position. Overcrowding. Use of occupancy of a room, dwelling unit, guest room or guestroom suite in excess of that permitted by this Code. Owner. The owner or owners of the freehold of the premises or a lesser estate therein, a vendee in possession, or the lessee or joint lessees of the whole thereof. Pantry. A space accessible to a dining room or kitchen for the storage of food, dishes or utensils. Partition. An interior vertical separation running from floor to ceiling and dividing one part of an enclosed area from another. Person. Any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, company, municipal, state or federal agency, executors, administrators, successors, assigns or agents or their heirs. Plumbing Code. The San Francisco Plumbing Code Part II, Chapter VII, of the San Francisco Municipal Code. Porch. A porch is a projection of appendage on the exterior of a building, which has a roof the ceiling height of which cannot be less than seven feet. Where one balcony is placed one story above another balcony, the balconies shall be considered as porches. Premises. Land including improvements or appurtenances or any part thereof. Repairs. The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance. Required. As required in this Code. Roof Structure. "Roof structure" is any building or structure erected upon the roof of a building, designed to protect machinery or mechanical devices located on such roof and not used for any of the occupancies set forth in Chapter 3 of the Building Code. Rooming House. Same as "lodging house." Service Room. "Service room" shall mean any room used for storage, bath or utility purposes, and not included in the definition of "habitable rooms." Shaft. Any shaft used for air, light or ventilation, or for vertical openings within a building. A vent shaft is one used solely to ventilate a water- closet compartment, bathroom, toilet, utility room or other service room. Stairwell. A volume formed by the enclosure of any stair, or that would have been formed if the stairs were enclosed. Story. "Story" is that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a basement or unused under-floor space is more than six feet above grade as defined herein for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter or is more than 12 feet above grade as defined herein at any point, such basement or unused under-floor space shall be considered a story. Story, first, is the lowest story in a building which qualifies as a story, as defined herein, except that a floor level in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a first story, provided such floor is not more than four feet below grade, as defined herein, for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter, or more than eight feet below grade, as defined herein, at any point. Substandard Building. See Chapter 10 of this Code. Superficial Floor Area. "Superficial floor area" is the net floor area within the enclosing walls of the room in which the ceiling height is not less than seven feet six inches, excluding built-in equipment such as wardrobes, cabinets, kitchen units, or fixtures which are not readily removable. Toilet Room. A room containing one or more water closets or urinals. Unsafe Building. See Section 102A of the Building Code. Unusable Space. A space or area which is not readily accessible and which has not more than three feet vertical clearance at any point. Use. "Use" shall mean as used or designed or intended to be used. Ventilating Area. The net area of an opening for the unobstructed passage of air. An approved screen is not considered as obstructing the area provided that the required ventilating area is maintained. Water Closet Compartment. Same as "toilet room." Weathering. Deterioration, decay or damage caused by exposure to the elements. Window. "Window" shall mean a glazed opening, including glazed doors, which open upon a yard, court, or recess from a court, or a vent shaft open and unobstructed to the sky. Clerestory windows shall be included in this definition. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 160-14, File No. 140009, App. 7/31/2014, Eff. 8/30/2014; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) Chapter 5

SPACE AND OCCUPANCY STANDARDS

Sec. 501. General. Sec. 502. Yards and Courts. Sec. 503. Room Dimensions. Sec. 504. Light and Ventilation. Sec. 505. Sanitation. Sec. 506. Habitable Basement Rooms. Sec. 507. Cooking Facilities.

SEC. 501. GENERAL. See Chapter 1 of this Code and Chapter 3, Section 310 of the Building Code. Buildings erected, altered or converted prior to July 26, 1958, shall comply with the minimum requirements as set forth in Sections 501 through 507 of this Code. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 502. YARDS AND COURTS. See Chapter 1 of this Code, Section 1205 of the Building Code, and the City Planning Code. Yards, courts, vent shafts, and required unoccupied space for buildings constructed, converted or altered prior to July 26, 1958, need not be provided or increased in size if the habitable rooms and required windows opening thereon were installed under permit, or would have been permitted under the codes in effect at the time installed. (Amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 503. ROOM DIMENSIONS. (a) Ceiling Heights. Unless legally constructed as such, no habitable room shall have a ceiling height less than seven feet six inches. Any room, other than a habitable room, shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet. (b) Superficial Floor Area. Every dwelling unit and congregate residence shall have at least one room which shall have not less than 120 square feet of superficial floor area. Every room which is used for both cooking and living or both living and sleeping purposes shall have not less than 144 square feet of superficial floor area. Every room used for sleeping purposes shall have not less than 70 square feet of superficial floor area. When more than two persons occupy a room used for sleeping purposes the required superficial floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet for each occupant in excess of two. Guest rooms with cooking shall contain the combined required superficial areas of a sleeping and a kitchen, but not less than 144 square feet. Other habitable rooms shall be not less than 70 square feet. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, children under the age of six shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether a family with minor children complies with the provisions of this Code. (c) Width. No habitable room except a kitchen shall be less than seven feet in width. Rooms used as guest rooms with cooking shall have a 10- foot minimum width. (d) Housing Access. To promote access to housing by families, it shall be unlawful for the owner, lessor, lessee, sublessee, real estate broker, assignee, or other person having the rights of ownership, the right of possession, or other right to rent or lease any dwelling unit or any agent or employee of such person to refuse to rent or lease, or otherwise deny, a dwelling unit to a family, as defined in Section 401 of this Code, on the basis of the actual or potential number of occupants if the total number of persons occupying a room for sleeping purposes does not violate the minimum superficial floor area standards prescribed in Subsection (b) of this Section. (e) Remedies. A violation of Subsection (d) of this Section shall be subject to the civil remedies specified in Section 204(e) of this Code. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 123-93, App. 4/29/93; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007)

SEC. 504. LIGHT AND VENTILATION. General. For the purpose of determining the light or ventilation required by this Section, 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 25 square feet, whichever is greater. Exterior openings for natural light or ventilation required by this Section shall open directly onto a public way or a yard or court located on the same lot as the building. EXCEPTIONS: 1. Required windows may open into a roof porch where the porch: a. Abuts a public way, yard or court; and b. Has a ceiling height of not less than seven feet; and c. Has a longer side at least 65 percent open and unobstructed. 2. Skylights. (a) Natural Light and Ventilation – Habitable Room. Guest rooms and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit or congregate residence shall have an aggregate window area of not less than one-twelfth of the floor area or 10 square feet, whichever is greater. In one-family and two-family dwellings not more than one story and basement in height, a skylight is permitted over a required court or side yard if the skylight ventilating area equals the minimum required window area for rooms ventilated by such court and where another source of ventilation to the court exists or is provided, e.g., a tunnel entrance. In no case shall a skylight be permitted when a sleeping room opens into an enclosed court or side yard. Openable Window Area. In guest rooms and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit or congregate residence one-half of the required window area in all rooms and hallways shall be openable. Clerestory windows are permitted, provided they meet the requirements for ventilation as set forth in this Code. (b) Reserved. (c) Mechanical Ventilation. An approved system of mechanical ventilation or air conditioning may be used in lieu of openable exterior windows. Such system shall provide not less than two air changes per hour, except that in bathrooms, containing a bathtub, shower or combination thereof, laundry rooms and similar rooms such system shall provide five air changes per hour. A minimum of 15 cubic feet per occupant of the air supply shall be taken from the outside or as required per Section 402.3 of the Mechanical Code. The point of discharge of exhaust air shall be at least three feet from any opening into the building. Bathrooms that contain only a water closet, lavatory or combination thereof and similar rooms may be ventilated with an approved mechanical recirculating fan or similar device designed to remove odors from the air. In single-family dwellings, separate switches for the light and ventilation are permissible. Any person in charge of a building in which an exhaust fan system of ventilation is installed and used pursuant to this chapter, who fails, neglects or refuses to operate and maintain the system in good order and repair so that the air in each for which it is provided is not completely changed within the specie intervals, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (d) Exit Corridors. Every exit corridor in all apartment houses or hotels shall be ventilated as follows: (1) Windows Required. In an apartment house or hotel, every exit corridor shall have at least one window unless it is lighted and ventilated by a skylight, a ventilated connecting hallway, or a mechanical ventilation system pursuant to the provisions of this Section. (2) Window Area and Location. Each required window shall be 10 square feet in area, at least 50 percent of which shall be openable. (3) Existing transoms in corridor walls shall be removed and the openings covered or closed with incombustible materials fastened so as to prevent the opening of the transoms. A transom is defined as a window above a door or any other window in a hallway, corridor or passageway, other than exterior windows. (4) Doors opening to corridors from guest rooms or dwelling units shall be maintained in a normally closed position except when used for entrance or egress to the room or dwelling unit. (5) Skylight Permitted. Skylights shall be permitted in lieu of the required windows in exit corridors in the topmost story of apartment houses and hotels. (6) Skylight Area and Location. (i) Each skylight shall have an effective horizontal area of glass of at least eight square feet. (ii) Each skylight shall be so arranged that its entire ventilating area may be readily opened, or its ventilators may be fixed permanently in an open position providing not less than 400 square inches of ventilating area. (7) Mechanical Ventilation. An exit corridor of an apartment house or hotel may, in lieu of any window, be: (i) Lighted and ventilated by a connecting exit corridor equipped with a window or skylight meeting the requirements of this chapter; or (ii) Ventilated by an approved mechanical system of ventilation designed and operated to produce not less than two complete changes of air per hour. (8) Stairway Ventilation.

(i) Each enclosed stairway shall be vented at the top by means of a skylight or other approved means of ventilation. If by other approved means, the net ventilating area shall be not less than five percent of the cross-sectional area of the stairwell. (ii) Construction of skylights shall conform to the Building Code. (e) Electrical Convenience Outlets. Every habitable room shall have at least one electrical convenience outlet and every kitchen shall have at least two electrical convenience outlets; or in a kitchen in which all major appliances such as range, refrigerator, stove, oven, disposal unit and/or dishwasher are built into the wall or cabinets of said kitchen, or in which there is no major electrical appliance or in which the major appliance is operated from a central unit in the building, one electrical convenience outlet shall be furnished for each 12 feet of continuous counter and for each separate counter area. Ceiling and wall lighting fixture outlets shall not be included in the required number of the required outlets. Rooms with running water shall require wall switches for control of the lighting outlets. All new outlets, fixtures and wiring shall comply with the Electrical Code. (f) Dormitories – Capacity. No dormitory shall contain sleeping accommodations for more than 15 persons, nor shall any dormitory be so overcrowded as to be inconsistent with the requirement of this chapter for rooms used for sleeping purposes, or for the amount of sleeping room floor area per occupant. The bed frames shall be made of hard, smooth, incombustible, nonabsorbent material; the beds to be arranged as follows: (1) Not less than three feet of horizontal space between beds. (2) Not less than one foot of clear space between the floor of the dormitory and the underside of the lower bed. (g) Artificial Light. In every apartment house and in every hotel there shall be installed artificial light sufficient in volume to illuminate properly every exit corridor, passageway, public stairway, fire escape egress, elevator, public water closet compartment, or toilet room to prevent safety hazard. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 160-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 192-02, App. 9/17/2002; Ord. 136-05, App. 6/28/2005; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 505. SANITATION. (a) Dwelling Units, Lodging Houses and Congregate Residences. Dwelling unit, lodging houses and congregate residence shall be provided with a water-closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub or shower, within the unit, except that one facility for the exclusive use of a single dwelling unit may be situated off the exit corridor on the same floor. (b) Hotels. Hotel guestrooms shall be provided with a water-closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub or shower, within the guest room or said facilities may be situated off the exit corridor on the same floor pursuant to the table indicated below. Single-user water-closets, lavatories, bathtubs, and showers that are situated off the exit corridors shall be made available for the use of all residents, regardless of gender or gender identity, and shall be identified as all-gender facilities by signage that complies with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. The following table will be used in determining the minimum number of public sanitary facilities required per floor when guest rooms do not contain the requisite sanitary facilities: Total Number of Public Sanitary Facilities Required for Guest Rooms (per Floor) *Existing Number of Guest Rooms per Floor Public Sanitary Facilities Required *Existing Number of Guest Rooms per Floor Public Sanitary Facilities Required 2 - 20 2 21 - 30 3 31 - 40 4 41 - 50 5 51 - 60 6 61 - 70 7 Etc.

*NOTE: Existing guest rooms with private sanitation facilities are not part of the guest room floor total for purposes of this requirement. (c) Kitchen. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen having adequate and clean facilities for the preparation, storage and preservation of food and every kitchen shall be provided with a kitchen sink constructed of approved nonabsorbent and impervious materials. No wooden sink or sink of similar absorbent material will be permitted. The space underneath the sink or wash tray shall be constructed so as to provide for its ventilation and inspection. All appliances provided by the owner shall be maintained in good working condition, excluding minor damage caused by inappropriate housekeeping practices or improper use. Community kitchens and kitchens in guest rooms shall comply with Section 507 of this Code. (d) Fixtures.

(1) All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to a sanitary sewer. All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to an approved system of water supply and required fixtures shall be provided with hot and cold running water, except water closets shall be provided with cold water only. (2) All plumbing fixtures shall be of an approved nonabsorbent material. No timers or devices, other than water conservation fixtures required by Chapters 12 and 12A of this Code, shall be permitted to restrict or interrupt the water flow from showerheads installed in any dwellings, apartment houses, dormitories, lodging houses, and hotels, as defined in this Code; provided, however, that the prohibition set forth in section 505(d)(2) shall not apply to owner-occupied dwelling units. (3) For the purposes of this Section, water heated to a minimum temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Centigrade) and a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Centigrade) at the tap shall be furnished to hotels and apartment houses. (4) Each building shall provide four gallons of hot water storage capacity per guest room and eight gallons of hot water storage capacity per dwelling unit. (5) Shower heads with no more than a 2.5- gallon-per-minute flow shall be required. Showerheads of the ball-joint type that cannot easily be removed from the wall without structural alteration are exempt from this requirement. (e) Water Closet Compartment. See Sections 1210 in the Building Code. (f) Room Separations. No room used for the preparation of food shall be used for sleeping purposes except as otherwise provided in the Building Code. Every kitchen or room in which food is stored or prepared shall be separated from any water closet or urinal compartment by at least a tight- fitting door. EXCEPTIONS: (1) No change is required in apartment houses and hotels constructed prior to August 17, 1923. (2) No change is required in dwellings constructed prior to January 1, 1929. Every partition in a building separating a kitchen with gas appliances from a room used for sleeping purposes shall extend to the ceiling or, if there is no ceiling, to the roof. An opening in the partition shall be provided with a door; provided, however, that a wall or partition an opening not exceeding three feet in width and seven feet in height may be permitted. Every water closet, bathtub or shower required by this Code shall be installed in a room which will afford privacy to the occupant. (g) Installation and Maintenance. All sanitary facilities shall be installed and maintained in safe and sanitary condition and in accordance with all applicable laws. All plumbing fixtures, gas appliances and appurtenances thereto and their installation, maintenance, repair or alteration shall comply with the requirements of the Plumbing Code and all other applicable sections of the Municipal Code. (h) Waterproofing – Basements. The walls and floor of every basement which is below the ground level shall be waterproofed and dampproof, and, whenever necessary in the opinion of the Director, the walls and floor shall be provided with approved waterproofing protection. (i) Drainage. See Appendix Section J109 of the Building Code. One-family and two-family dwellings, other than those buildings constructed or converted to an R-3 Occupancy in which the Plumbing Code and/or Building Code in effect at the time of construction or alteration, require other provisions, are exempt from the drainage requirements for balconies and other projections, provided the drainage from the projection or balcony falls within the property lines and does not adversely affect adjacent property. (j) Grab Bars. The water-closet, lavatory, and bathing facilities provided for guest rooms situated on the same floor and used in common are required to have grab bars that comply with Chapter 11B of the California Building Code; except that limitations within existing floor and room configurations will be taken into consideration regarding grab bar location and configuration. Building permits are required for installation. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 160-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 192-02, App. 9/17/2002; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 29-13, App. 2/26/2013, Eff. 3/26/2013; Ord. 128-17, File No. 170159, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 25-18, File No. 171285, App. 2/14/2018, Eff. 3/17/2018; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 506. HABITABLE BASEMENT ROOMS. All habitable basement rooms shall comply with Sections 503 and 504 of this Code. (Added by Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 507. COOKING FACILITIES. (a) Community kitchens. (1) General. Community kitchens provided for the use of occupants of guest rooms shall comply with this section and shall not be removed but may be replaced. The number of guest rooms that may be served by a community kitchen shall be based on the following schedule:

Minimum Size of Community Kitchen (superficial area in square feet) 1 Number of Guest Rooms Served 100 (9.29 m2) 1 - 6 10 (0.929 m2) Per additional guest room

1 NOTE: Superficial floor area is the net floor area within the enclosing walls of the room in which the ceiling height is not less than 7'6" (2.286 m) excluding built-in equipment such as wardrobes, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures which are not readily removable. Adjacent dining areas may be counted as additional superficial floor area. (2) Cooking facilities. Only electric cooking appliances shall be used in community kitchens. Where they consist of electric plates, not more than two single or one double unit shall be permitted for each guest room served by the kitchen. Gas fuel appliances shall be prohibited. Electric plates shall be securely attached to a metal shelf or metal table and shall be located not closer than 3 inches (76.2 mm) from a wall surface. Where a wall of combustible construction is located closer than 24 inches (609.6 mm) to an electric plate, a wall guard consisting of sheet metal of not less than 28 gauge over 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) millboard, or other approved materials, shall be secured to the adjacent wall directly to the rear of the electric plates. Such protective wall guard shall extend a minimum of 24 inches (609.6 mm) above the cooking top for the full width of the appliance. Storage facilities. Countertops shall be of noncombustible construction. One noncombustible food storage cabinet with a minimum of 4 square feet (0.3716 m2) of shelf space shall be provided for each guest room served by the community kitchen. Countertops may be of combustible materials, provided the countertop is of an approved nonabsorbent material. Cooking appliances shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Countertops of combustible materials shall not be used to support electric plates. Cabinets located over the cooking area shall have a minimum of 30 inches (762 mm) clearance above the cooking top and shall have a noncombustible covering on the underside above the cooking area. (3) Construction. Community kitchens shall be located in a room with a self-closing door. The minimum ceiling height shall be 7'6" (2.286 m). Floors shall be waterproofed as required in Section 2306.9 for floors. At least one metal kitchen sink drainboard shall be provided. Each sink shall be provided with hot and cold running water. (b) Guest room cooking facilities. Cooking facilities located within guest rooms shall comply with Section 507(a). (Added by Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; amended by Ord. 72-21, File No. 210346, App. 5/14/2021, Eff. 6/14/2021)