§ 11-314. LIGHT AND VENTILATION.

(a)  General. For the purposes 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 (2.3 m ), 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 roofed porch where the porch:

(i) Abuts a public way, yard, court; and

(ii) Has a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm); and

(iii) Has a longer side at least 65 percent open and obstructed.

(2) Skylights.

(b)  Lights. Guest rooms and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit or congregate residence shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less than one tenth of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of 10 square feet (0.93 m ).

(c)  Ventilation. Guest rooms and habitable rooms within a dwelling unit or congregate residence shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of openable exterior openings with an area of not less than one twentieth of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of 5 square feet (0.46 m ).

In lieu of required exterior openings for natural ventilation, a mechanical ventilating system may be provided. Such system shall be capable of providing two air changes per hour in all guest rooms, dormitories, habitable rooms and in public corridors. One fifth of the air supply shall be taken from the outside.

Bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundry rooms and similar rooms shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of openable exterior openings with an area not less than one twentieth of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of 1½ square feet (0.14 m ).

In lieu of required exterior openings for natural ventilation in bathrooms containing a bathtub or shower or combination thereof, laundry rooms, and similar rooms, a mechanical ventilation system connected directly to the outside capable of providing five air changes per hour shall be provided. The point of discharge of exhaust air shall be at least 3 feet (914 mm) from any opening into the building. Bathrooms which contain only a water closet or 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.

(d)  Hallways. All public hallways, stairs and other exitways shall be adequately lighted at all times in accordance with the Fresno Building Code. (Added Ord. 97-69, § 2, eff. 1-4-98).