Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 05 - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Subtitle 04 - SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAMS
Chapter 05.04.02 - Housing Rehabilitation Program-Applicable Codes and Standards
Section 05.04.02.05 - Building Planning
Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 05.04.02.05
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 25, December 15, 2023
A. The objective is to assure a living unit which provides for a healthful environment and complete living facilities arranged and equipped for suitable and desirable living conditions under consideration.
B. Space Standards.
(1) General.
(a) The standard is to provide:
(i) Each living unit with space necessary for
suitable living, sleeping, cooking and dining accommodations, storage, laundry,
and sanitary facilities; and
(ii)
Space of such size and dimensions so as to permit placement of furniture and
essential equipment.
(b)
Habitable rooms in basements or below grade intended for year-round occupancy
shall comply with building planning standards in the same manner as rooms above
grade (see §C).
(2)
Room Sizes. The size of rooms shown in Table .05-1 should be minimum for the
subdividing of existing spaces or for the construction of new rooms.
Unremodeled existing rooms where considered of adequate size and arrangement
for the intended function by the Program are acceptable.
(3) Ceiling Heights. Ceiling heights shall
permit the average person to move about comfortably, and create no unpleasant
sensation because of the ceiling being of insufficient height.
(4) Privacy and Arrangement.
(a) A degree of privacy shall be provided
commensurate with suitable living conditions by means of the proper location of
exterior conditions, and by the interior arrangement of rooms.
(b) Access to all parts of a living unit
shall be possible without passing through a public hall.
(c) Every water closet, bathtub, or shower of
a living unit shall be installed in a bathroom or toilet compartment which will
afford privacy to the occupant.
(d)
A bathroom may not be used as a passageway to a habitable room, hall, basement,
or to the exterior.
(e) Access to
an existing bathroom may be through a bedroom in living units having more than
one bedroom, provided it is judged to be acceptable to the market.
(f) A bathroom should not be separated from
all bedrooms of a living unit by locating it a full story above or below the
bedrooms.
(g) A bedroom should not
be used as the only means of access to another bedroom or habitable
room.
(5) Kitchen
Facilities. Each living unit shall have a specific kitchen space, which
contains a sink with counter work space and has hot and cold running water,
adequate space for installing cooking and refrigeration equipment, and for
storing cooking utensils.
(6) Bath
Facilities. Complete bathing and sanitary facilities shall be provided within
each living unit. They shall consist of a water-closet, a tub or shower, and a
lavatory. An adequate supply of hot water to the tub or shower stall, or both,
and lavatory, and cold water to all fixtures shall be provided. Arrangement of
fixtures shall provide for the comfortable use of each fixture and permit at
least a 90-degree door swing. Wall space shall be available for a mirror or
medicine cabinet and for towel bars.
(7) Space for Laundry Facilities. Adequate
space should be provided for laundry equipment within each living unit, off a
public corridor, or in a basement or other suitable public space for the use of
all occupants of a building. If nearby public commercial laundries are
available, consideration may be given as to the extent residents of the project
can be expected to use them in determining laundry space needs.
(8) Closets and General Storage. Clothes
closet space shall be provided within bedrooms or conveniently located nearby.
In addition, each living unit should have a suitable space within the unit or a
locked space elsewhere within the building for general storage.
C. Light and Ventilation.
(1) General. A healthful environment and an
acceptable degree of comfort within all rooms and hallways of the dwelling by
having sufficient light and ventilation, and natural ventilation for structural
spaces to minimize conditions conducive to decay and deterioration shall be
provided.
(2) Habitable Rooms.
(a) All habitable rooms, except kitchens,
shall have natural light, provided by means of windows, glazed doors, or
skylights. A glass area of at least 8 percent of the floor area shall be
provided for new or remodeled rooms, or other spaces.
(b) An existing habitable room not disturbed
in the rehabilitation which is deficient or without natural light can be
considered acceptable provided this is judged to be acceptable to the
market.
(c) An acceptable means of
natural ventilation shall exist or be provided for all habitable spaces, except
that for kitchens a mechanical ventilation system may be substituted. A
ventilation area of 5 percent of the floor area of the space shall be
provided.
(d) Artificial light
shall be provided and so distributed as to assure healthful conditions and
satisfactory illumination in all rooms.
(e) Kitchens shall have artificial light
provided. Ventilation shall be provided by either mechanical ventilation, or if
natural means are used, by 5 percent of the floor area but not less than a
3-square-foot area.
(3)
Bathrooms and Toilet Compartments. Artificial light shall be provided.
Ventilation shall be provided by either mechanical means or if natural means
are used, by 5 percent of the floor area, but not less than a 1-1/2 square-foot
area.
(4) Public Spaces. Artificial
light shall be provided in all public spaces.
(5) Public Entrance Spaces. Either natural
ventilation of at least 5 percent of the floor area or mechanical ventilation
shall be provided at all public entrance spaces.
(6) Ventilation of Utility Spaces. Utility
spaces which contain heat producing, air conditioning, or other equipment shall
be ventilated to the outer air, and air from these spaces may not be
recirculated to other parts of the building.
(7) Ventilation of Structural Spaces. Natural
ventilation of spaces such as attics and enclosed basement spaces shall be
provided by openings of sufficient sizes to overcome dampness and minimize the
effect of conditions conducive to decay and deterioration of the structure, and
to prevent excessive heat in attics. Exterior ventilation openings shall be
effectively screened where needed.
D. Doors and Access Openings.
(1) The standard is to provide openings
adequate in size to admit furniture and equipment to all spaces and to permit
inspection for repair and maintenance.
(2) Exterior Doors. Exterior doors shall have
safe locks.
(3) Interior Doors. A
door for each opening to a bedroom, bathroom, or toilet compartment, with a
locking device on bath and toilet compartment doors, shall be
provided.
E. Stairways.
(1) General. All stairways shall provide
safety of ascent and descent, and stairs and landings shall be arranged to
permit adequate headroom and space for the passage of furniture and
equipment.
(2) Existing Stairways.
Existing stairways in sound condition to remain or to be repaired may not be,
to any serious extent, below minimum standards of good practice as to rise and
run of steps, headroom, obstruction, stair width, landings, or railing
protection. See Regulation .06C for related conditions.
(3) New Stairways. New stairways to be
constructed shall comply with standards of good practice and be appropriate to
the building and occupant load.
F. Corridors and Hallways. Corridors and hallways shall provide adequate, safe, and unobstructed circulation from living units or other spaces to various means of exit.
G. Exterior Appurtenances. All exterior appurtenances or accessory structures which serve no useful purpose, or those in a deteriorated condition which are not economically repairable, shall be removed. These structures include porches, terraces, entrance platforms, garages, carports, walls, fences, and miscellaneous sheds.
H. Trash and Garbage Disposal.
(1) Every dwelling and multifamily building
shall be supplied with a means of disposal or removal of trash and
garbage.
(2) If disposal will not
take place promptly, there shall be a convenient and appropriate temporary and
sanitary storage for trash and garbage provided, which is inaccessible to
rodents.
I. Noise Control.
(1) When practical, functional areas
of high noise should be separated from areas of quiet. Clothes or storage
closets are useful separators.
(2)
Partitions should extend to solid floor-ceiling construction and should not
terminate at hung ceilings.
(3)
Pipes should be caulked and wrapped and ductwork should be sealed where they
penetrate sound-impeding partitions and floors. Ducts should be lined near
registers or grilles, and at fan discharge.
(4) Motors, fans, and other mechanical
equipment should be balanced and mounted.
(5) If kitchens or bathrooms are located
back-to-back, special attention should be given to the construction to reduce
noise from plumbing fixtures and noise through medicine cabinets.
(6) Where living units are adjacent to high
noise areas such as boiler rooms or other mechanical equipment, the
construction separating the spaces should provide a greater noise resistance
than normal room separation.
TABLE .05-1
| Room Sizes | ||||
| Minimum Area (Square Feet)(2) | ||||
| Name of Space (1) |
0 BR LU |
1 and 2 BR LU |
3 or more BR LU |
Least Dimension (2) |
| LR | NA | 140 | 150 | 10'0" |
| DR | NA | 80 | 100 | 7'8" |
| K | NA | 50 | 60 | 5'4" |
| K'ette | 20 | 25 | 40 | 3'6" |
| BR (Double) | NA | 110 | 110 | 8'8" |
| BR (Single) | NA | 70 | 70 | 7'0" |
| LR-DA | NA | 180 | 200 | (3) |
| LR-DA-K | NA | 220 | 250 | (3) |
| LR-DA-SL | 220 | NA | NA | (3) |
| LR-SL | 190 | NA | NA | (3) |
| K-DA | 80 | 80 | 110 | (3) |
| K'ette - DA | 60 | 60 | 90 | (3) |
Notes:
(1)
Abbreviations:
LU = Living Unit
K'ette = Kitchenette
LR = Living Room
BR = Bedroom
DR = Dining Room
SL = Sleeping Area
DA = Dining Area
NA = Not Applicable
K = Kitchen
O-BR = No separate bedroom
(2) Variations to these areas and dimensions
may be permitted when existing partitions preclude precise compliance, and the
available area or dimensions do not hinder furniture placement and the normal
use of the space.
(3) The least
dimension of each room function applies, except for the overlap or double use
of space in combination rooms.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maryland may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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