Sec. 21-33. Electrical and lighting.

(a) General provision. Every rental housing unit should have electrical service and lighting properly installed and maintained in sound condition adequate to support the health and safety of occupants, permit the safe use of electrical appliances and permit normal indoor activities.

(b) Habitable rooms; outlets and lights. Every habitable room shall contain at least two (2) electrical convenience outlets and either a permanently installed light fixture controlled by a wall switch or an additional electrical convenience outlet controlled by a wall switch. Ceiling or sidewall light fixtures controlled by a wall switch shall be required in all kitchens or kitchen areas. In addition to the above minimum requirements, every owner, agent and manager shall provide sufficient electrical outlets to service the appliances and fixtures furnished by the owner, agent or manager and located within the room.

(c) Other rooms; outlets and lights. Every laundry room, bathroom and toilet compartment shall contain at least one permanently installed ceiling or sidewall light fixture controlled by a wall switch. In addition to the above minimum requirements, every owner, agent and manager shall provide sufficient electrical convenience outlets to service the appliances and fixtures furnished by the owner, agent or manager and located within the room.

(d) Ground-fault circuit-interrupters. All electrical convenience outlets installed in bathrooms and within six (6) feet of a lavatory or kitchen sink shall have ground-fault circuitinterrupter protection, provided it can be installed without additional wiring to the main electrical service panel. As used in this section, a bathroom is an area with a tub or shower, with or without a lavatory.

(e) Stairway and hall lights; except public. Every stairway and hall, except public or common stairways and halls, shall contain at least one ceiling or sidewall light fixture controlled by a wall switch except where light is available from a permanent source or an adjacent space. The switch or switches shall be located so as not to have to traverse darkened areas to access them.

(f) Stairway and hall lights; public. Every public or common stairway, hallway, corridor or breezeway in or leading into multifamily dwellings shall be lighted, by natural or artificial means, at all times.

g) Exterior entrances; multifamily. Every building serving four (4) or more rental housing units shall have the main building entrances lighted with specific lighting during nighttime hours. The entrances into individual rental housing units shall also be provided with specific lighting which shall be controlled either automatically or manually by a switch controlled by the tenant.

(h) Exterior areas; multifamily. Every common area, accessory use area, aisle, passageway, pedestrian walkway and sidewalk of buildings serving four (4) or more rental housing units shall be lighted with specific lighting during nighttime hours.

(i) Parking lots; multifamily. Common parking lots and covered and uncovered parking areas serving four (4) or more rental housing units shall be lighted with specific lighting during nighttime hours.

(j) Mailboxes; multifamily. Postal service "gang boxes" in buildings serving four (4) or more rental housing units shall be lighted with specific lighting during nighttime hours.

(k) Installation and maintenance. Every outlet, switch and fixture shall be properly installed and maintained in sound condition. No owner, agent or manager shall provide, install or allow to be installed or used any frayed and exposed wiring; wiring unprotected by proper covering; fixtures in disrepair; tacked extension cording; or makeshift wiring, outlets or fixture repairs.

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A common example:

A common violation for this code is when a rental property has an appliance that creates an occasional spark. The violation in this scenario is that all rentals must have a working appliances that are safe and in sound condition.