Municipal Occupancy StandardsBuilding CodesThis Is A Summary Page American cities, towns, townships and parishes have usually adopted one of the principal building codes to govern construction and occupancy in their jurisdiction; UBC (Universal Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators) or SBC (Standard Building Code). |
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The various construction codes were intended to standardize and improve building regulations, promote effective administration, organization and enforcement of these regulations by professionally staffed state and local governmental units. Because of sometimes significant differences in the competing codes, there is now a migration by most municipalities to one standard; the International Building Code (IBC). |
Because the decision to make the jump to conformity sometimes becomes political, vested interests, with pull, may slow the process in some areas so code uniformity may be slow in coming. .
Understanding local requirements & HUD
The most contentious issue HUD (Housing and Urban Development) has with building codes involves landlords and property managers using local code occupancy standards to violate Fair Housing Laws.
Federal housing officials believe that occupancy standards, based solely on square feet, can result in discrimination against families with children, or those from cultures who wish to live as extended families in the same home.
The following rental housing occupancy requirements are specified by UBC
No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy, any rental unit for the purpose of living therein that does not comply with the following requirements:
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Minimum Ceiling Height For Various Rooms
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Required Space in Sleeping Rooms
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Access Limitation of Dwelling Unit to Commercial Uses
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Location of Rooms
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Required Space and Features in Efficiency Unit
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Requirements For Basement Dwelling Units
Remember:
State and municipal statutes, ordinances and codes differ. It is therefore imperative that landlords and property managers read, and maintain, copies of all the rules they are expected to do business under. You can get a copy of the code used locally by contacting the building inspection department where you own property.
HUD may enforce Fair Housing Laws as superior to local codes.
The above topics are discussed in more depth
on our members' Occupancy Standards page.
Also see: final report of hud review of model building codes