Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Administration › Chapter Adm 92 - Relocation Assistance › Subchapter I - General › Section Adm 92.04 - Decent, safe, and sanitary housing

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) PURPOSE. The
				following minimum housing standards are to assure that housing quality is
				adequate for the protection of public health, safety and welfare. They shall be
				applicable for all dwellings selected for comparable replacement housing
				payment determinations, referrals to displaced persons and to which persons
				move.
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. A
				decent, safe and sanitary dwelling conforms with applicable provisions for
				existing structures established under state or local building, plumbing,
				electrical, housing and occupancy codes and similar ordinances or regulations,
				and meets the following minimum requirements:
(a)
Water.
A dwelling shall
				have a continuing and adequate supply of water suitable for drinking.
(b)
Kitchen.
A dwelling
				shall have a room or portion of a room where food is normally prepared and
				cooked and is equipped with:
1. A kitchen sink
				in good working condition, properly connected to an approved water system with
				sufficient hot and cold water, and to an approved sewer system.
2. Cabinets or shelves for the storage of
				eating, drinking and cooking equipment and utensils, and food that does not
				ordinarily require refrigeration for safekeeping. The cabinets or shelves shall
				be of sound construction with surfaces that are easily cleaned and have no
				toxic or noxious effect on food.
3.
				Sufficient space and utility service connections for installation of a stove
				and refrigerator.
(c)
Heating system.
A dwelling shall have a safe, good working and
				properly installed heating system capable of heating all habitable rooms to
				approximately 70° F. Unvented fuel-fired flame space heaters and furnaces
				shall be prohibited. Portable electric heaters approved under appropriate local
				and state codes are acceptable.
(d)
Bathroom facility.
A dwelling shall contain the following:
1. A private, nonhabitable room with a
				properly working flush toilet connected to a water system with sufficient
				water, and to an approved sewer system.
2. A room with a lavatory sink. A sink may be
				in the same room as a toilet. If a sink is located in a room other than the one
				with a toilet, the toilet shall be near a door leading directly into the room
				with a sink. A sink shall be in good working condition, properly connected to
				an approved water system with sufficient hot and cold water, and to an approved
				sewer system.
3. A private room
				with a bathtub or shower. A bathtub or shower may be in the same room as a
				flush toilet, a room with a lavatory sink, or in another room and shall be
				connected to an approved water system with sufficient hot and cold water, and
				to an approved sewer system.
(e)
Electric service.
A
				dwelling unit and public and common areas shall be supplied with electric
				service, wiring, outlets and fixtures which are properly installed, and
				maintained in good and safe working condition. The service capacity and the
				number of outlets and fixtures shall be as follows:
1. A habitable room shall have a minimum of 2
				floor or wall outlets.
2. A water
				closet room, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room, dining room, kitchen, and
				public hall shall have at least one ceiling or wall electric light
				fixture.
3. Light switches in a
				room or passage shall be conveniently located to light the area
				ahead.
4. Public halls and
				stairways in a multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted at all
				times.
(f)
Structurally sound.
1. A
				foundation, roof, exterior wall door, skylight and windows shall be
				weathertight, waterproof, dampproof, and together with floors, interior walls
				and ceilings, be structurally sound and in good repair without visible evidence
				of structural failure or deterioration.
2. A dwelling, multiple dwelling, rooming
				house, other building or accessory structure and premises shall be maintained
				to prevent and eliminate rodents.
3. A foundation, roof, floors, exterior and
				interior walls, ceilings, inside and outside stairs, porches and all
				appurtenances shall be safe and capable of supporting a normal load. Inside and
				outside stairs shall have uniform risers and treads. Stairways shall have
				structurally sound handrails.
4.
				Plumbing fixtures and water pipes shall be properly installed and maintained in
				a good, sanitary working condition.
5. Toilet room, bathroom and kitchen floor
				surfaces shall be impervious to water to permit maintenance of a clean and
				sanitary condition.
6. Gas burning
				equipment and pipes, water and waste pipes, toilets, sinks, lavatories,
				bathtubs, shower and catch basins, vents, chimneys, flues, smoke pipes and
				other facilities, equipment or utilities in a dwelling, shall be maintained in
				a safe, satisfactory working condition.
(g)
Light and ventilation.
1. Habitable room. A habitable room shall
				have at least one openable window or skylight facing outside. The minimum
				window or skylight area shall be at least 8% of the floor area of a
				room.
2. Bathroom. A bathroom or
				toilet room shall comply with the requirement for a habitable room. A window or
				skylight may be omitted when the room is equipped with artificial lighting and
				adequate ventilation.
(h)
Number of exits - means of
				escape.
In a dwelling of more than 2 rooms, bedroom and living room
				areas shall have at least 2 means of escape with at least one door or stairway
				providing a means of unobstructed travel to the outside at street or ground
				level. Bedroom and living room areas may not be accessible by only a ladder or
				folding stairs, or through a trap door.
(hm)
Alternate means of
				escape.
A second means of escape shall be either:
1. A door or stairway providing a means of
				unobstructed travel to the outside at street or ground level, or
2. An outside window operable from the inside
				without the use of tools and providing a clear opening of not less than 20
				inches in width, 24 inches in height, and 5.7 square feet in area. The window
				bottom may not be more than 44 inches above the floor.
a. Exception no. 1. A second means of escape
				shall not be required when the room has a door leading directly outside to
				grade.
b. Exception no. 2. A
				second means of escape shall not be required when a building is protected
				throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
c. Exception no. 3. A second means of escape
				from a second or higher story dwelling may be directly through a common
				corridor provided the corridor has at least 2 means of escape.
(ht)
Prohibited
				path.
A required path of travel to the outside from a room may not be
				through another room or apartment not under the immediate control of the
				occupant of the first room, nor through a bathroom or other space subject to
				locking.
(i)
Habitable
				floor space.
A dwelling unit shall have at least 150 square feet of
				habitable floor space for the first occupant and at least 100 square feet, 70
				square feet for a mobile home, for each additional occupant. In addition:
1. The floor space shall be divided into
				rooms and bedrooms to be adequate for a displaced person. No more than 2
				persons may occupy a bedroom of less than 100 square feet. Children of opposite
				sex over age 7 may not be required to share a bedroom;
2. The ceiling height of any habitable room
				shall be at least 7 feet, except that in a habitable room with a sloping
				ceiling at least one half of the floor area shall have a ceiling height of at
				least 7 feet. The floor area of the room may not include that part of a room
				where the ceiling height is less than 5 feet;
3. Space located below grade may not be used
				as a habitable room unless:
a. The floor and
				the walls below grade are waterproof and dampproof;
b. The minimum window area shall be equal to
				that under par. (g) 1. and shall be within properly drained window wells when
				located below grade;
c. The total
				openable window area shall be at least equal to that as specified under par.
				(hm) 2., except when there is adequate ventilation and humidity
				control.
(j)
Barrier-free.
A dwelling and access to the dwelling shall be
				free of barriers for a person or family member with a physical
				disability.
(k)
Premises.
A dwelling site shall be graded, well drained and
				maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe condition, and located in an area not
				subject to adverse environmental conditions as determined by the
				agency.