Health and Life Safety Violations

Building

  1. Lack of adequate means of exit/egress.
  2. Lack of required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
  3. Lack of waterproofing and weather protection of roof and exterior walls, including windows and doors.
  4. Damaged framing members.
  5. Unpermitted work.
  6. Lack of 7’ ceiling height clearance from finish floor to finish ceiling
  7. Lack of required headroom at stairs 6’8″.
  8. Lack of required landings at stairs/steps.
  9. Stairways with rise heights that vary > 3/8″.
  10. Incorrect stair rise and run
    R-2: Rise > 7” Run < 11”
    R-3: Rise > 7-3/4” Run < 10”
  11. Lack of required emergency escape and rescue openings in sleeping rooms, habitable attics, and basements (openable area > 5.7 square feet, and opening height > 24”, and opening width > 20”). See here for requirements for existing windows in older homes.
  12. Lack of required handrail and/or guardrail at stairs- handrails must be continuous and return to the wall/newel post.
  13. Lack of guardrail at porch, deck, or landing more than 30” above grade.
  14. Lack of clean and sanitary buildings, grounds, and appurtenances (for example, a garden or a detached garage), free from debris, filth, rubbish garbage, rodents, and vermin.
  15. Lack of adequate trash receptacles in good repair.
  16. Lack of required natural lighting and ventilation in every room through windows or skylights. Windows in each room must be able to open at least halfway for ventilation unless a fan provides mechanical ventilation. Windows > 10 % of floor area, openings > 5% of floor area.
  17. Lack of fire emergency exits leading to a street or hallway. Stairs, hallways, and exits must be kept litter-free.
  18. Lack of operable deadbolt locks on the main entry doors of rental units, and operable locking or security devices on windows.
  19. Lack of address numbers visible from the street.
  20. Lack of required fire separation between attached garage and living spaces, and apartment party walls.
  21. Lack of a door between the toilet room and food preparation area.
  22. Exit door cannot require a key to exit.
  23. Unsafe/inoperable fireplace with open firebox.
  24. Pool/spa drowning prevention.
  25. Required safety glazing at hazardous locations.

Plumbing

  1. Lack of plumbing facilities in good working order, including hot and cold running water furnished to appropriate fixtures, and connected to a sewage disposal system.
  2. Lack of a working toilet, wash basin, and bathtub or shower. The toilet and bathtub or shower must be in a room, which is ventilated and allows for privacy.
  3. Lack of a working kitchen with a sink that cannot be made of an absorbent material such as wood.
  4. Gas facilities must be in good working order.
  5. Gas appliances with pilot lights cannot be in a sleeping room (water heater, furnace, etc.).
  6. Lack of hot and cold water supply.
  7. Lack of adequate air gap at tub or sink (faucet discharge <1” above flood rim).
  8. Lack of earthquake bracing at the water heater.
  9. Lack of or inadequate venting of the sewer system.
  10. Lack of adequate gas shutoff valve at all gas fixtures.
  11. Cap unused gas lines.
  12. Lack of adequate temperature & pressure relief valve (T&P Valve) at the water heater.
  13. Open sewer pipe.
  14. Lack of P-trap at plumbing fixtures.

Mechanical

  1. Heating facilities must be maintained in good working order and able to maintain a room temperature of 68 degrees 3′ from the floor and 2′ from exterior walls.
  2. Lack of combustion air in the water heater or furnace room.
  3. Lack of adequate dryer make-up air.
  4. Lack of adequate flue from water heater or gas heater.
  5. Lack of approved dryer exhaust vent.

Electrical

  1. The electric system, including lighting, panels, receptacles, wiring, and equipment, must be in good working order.
  2. Lack of required GFCI protection.
  3. Lack of required AFCI protection.
  4. Exposed and/or damaged wiring.
  5. Reverse polarity at receptacles.
  6. Damaged or missing cover plates.
  7. Wire splice/connection outside of approved junction box.
  8. Lack of proper cover/dead front at the electrical panels.
  9. Modified knob and tube wiring.