V.I. Code tit. 29, § 301 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 5 - Building Code|Subchapter V - Standards for Buildings Designed or Converted for Residential Occupancy|§ 301. Design and facilities requirements

 After May 1, 1964, no permit for the building or use of any structure for residential occupancy shall be issued unless the structure to be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, or converted conforms in its design and facilities to the following requirements: (a) Minimum requirements for health and sanitation  (1) Each dwelling unit shall contain a plumbing system connected to a potable water supply and to an adequate and safe water carriage system connected to a public sewer or other approved sewerage disposal system, except that water closets may be salt-water flushed. (2) Each dwelling unit shall contain at least a kitchen sink, lavatory, water closet, and a tub or shower. These required plumbing fixtures shall be located within the dwelling unit and be accessible to all occupants of the dwelling unit. The water closet and tub or shower shall be designed and located so as to afford privacy to the user. (3) Each rooming house shall contain at least one lavatory, one water closet, and one tub or shower for each five (5) rooms or ten (10) occupants of the rooming house. These required plumbing fixtures shall be located within the rooming house and shall be accessible to the occupants of the rooming unit without requiring passage through a rooming unit or requiring passage outside the building, and shall be so designed and located as to afford privacy to the user. (4) All fixtures, piping, and sewerage system and the installations thereof shall meet the requirements of this chapter, and/or Chapters 53 and 55 of Title 19 and the Rules and Regulations issued pursuant to the authority granted in Titles 19 and 29. (5) Every foundation wall, exterior wall, and roof shall be so designed and constructed as to be weathertight, and capable of supporting required design loads. (6) Every floor, interior wall, and ceiling shall be so designed as to be capable of supporting required design loads. (b) Minimum requirements for light and ventilation  (1) Every dwelling unit and rooming unit shall be wired for electric lights and convenience outlets with service connected thereto. There shall be installed at least one circuit for each 500 square feet of floor area and with a minimum of two circuits per dwelling unit and one per rooming unit. Light fixtures shall be installed in all rooms except that switch operated convenience outlets may be submitted in bedrooms and living rooms. Every public hall and stairway in multiple dwelling units and rooming houses shall be adequately lighted at all times. (2) Two duplex convenience outlets shall be installed in every habitable room except that only one shall be required in dining rooms and a total of three shall be required in each room where a switch-operated outlet is installed in lieu of a light fixture. (3) All fixtures, receptacles, equipment, and wiring shall be installed in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations authorized by this chapter. (4) Wherever structurally possible, each habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly on the outdoors. The minimum total window or skylight area in each such room shall be fifteen (15) percent of the floor area of the room. Where a light-obstructing wall or other structure faces a window of any such room and is located within five (5) feet of the window and extends to a level above the ceiling of the rooms, such a window shall not be included as contributing to the required window area. (5) Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can be easily opened or such other devices as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window or skylight area shall equal at least eight (8) percent of the floor area of the room. If mechanical ventilation is provided, the system shall provide at least one cubic foot of fresh air per minute per square foot of floor area. (6) Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms except that the total minimum window or skylight area in each such room shall be not less than ten (10) percent of the floor area of the room, and except that artificial light and mechanical ventilation may be substituted for windows or skylight. Mechanical ventilation shall be such as to provide a twenty-four (24) cubic feet per minute air change and such system shall be wired to operate in parallel with the light switch. (c) Minimum requirements for dwelling size and room size  (1) Every dwelling unit shall have at least 150 square feet of habitable floor area (not including kitchens, kitchenettes, bathrooms, water closet compartments, halls, or foyers). If the plans indicate that the dwelling unit is to be occupied by more than one person, then the space requirements set forth in section 333(d) of this title will be controlling. (2) Every habitable room, other than bedrooms, shall have at least 75 square feet of habitable floor area. (3) The minimum floor area requirements, exclusive of closets, for bedrooms shall be 100 square feet for the first bedroom, and 75 square feet for each additional bedroom. (4) Each bathroom shall be of adequate size for water closet, lavatory, and tub or shower. Arrangement of fixtures shall provide for comfortable use of each fixture and permit at least 90 degrees of floor swing. Where a water closet compartment is provided, the size of the bathroom can be reduced accordingly. (5) All habitable rooms, including bedrooms, shall have a minimum clear ceiling height of eight feet. (6) Measurements shall be based upon distances between finish floor surface and rough ceiling surface and between rough wall or rough partition surfaces. (d) The requirements of this subchapter shall not apply to owner occupied dwellings located in rural areas having a floor area of less than 600 square feet.