401. GENERAL

401 GENERAL Strike Section 401.3 in the International Property Maintenance Code in its entirety and insert new Section 401.3 into the Property Maintenance Code in its place to read as follows: 401.3 Window obstruction where natural light or natural ventilation is required. Exterior glazed openings shall open directly onto a public way or onto a yard or court in accordance with the provisions in effect when the building was approved for occupancy. Wherever walls or other portions of a structure face a window of any room and such obstructions are located less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the window and extend to a level above the sill of the window, such window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors nor to a court and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area for the room. A reasonable number of trees or shrubs shall not violate this section. Insert new Section 401.4 into the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows: 401.4 Habitable spaces. Habitable spaces are permitted below grade plane, provided they meet the requirements of this code. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 6173 (May 29, 2020 – Part 2). The District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code (2017), referred to as the “Property Maintenance Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (International Property Maintenance Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Property Maintenance Code Supplement of 2017 (12-G DCMR). The International Property Maintenance Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/551/ District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Property Maintenance Code Supplement of 2017 12-G DCMR § 401