TENEMENT HOUSE REGULATION 199 



In Philadelphia this is t rue of all over four stories ; in Washing- 

 ton of those over five stories ; in New York, Buffalo, Louisville, 

 Minneapolis and Denver, of those over six stories in height. 

 In Boston, the limit is 65 feet. 



Light and ventilation are protected by minimum open 

 spaces. In Philadelphia there must be open spaces at the 

 side or rear equal to one fifth of the lot area, and the minimum 

 width of all spaces is eight feet. In Buffalo, under the local 

 law in force before the general state act of 1901 was passed, the 

 minimum width of any outer court was six feet in two story 

 buildings, eight feet in three and four story buildings, and one 

 additional foot in width for each additional story. The mini- 

 mum interior court was eight by ten. In Boston, a clear open 

 space at the rear must be left equal to one half the width of the 

 street on which the tenement fronts, and there must be two 

 open spaces at least ten feet wide. In some cities the required 

 court area is expressed in square feet, without regard to mini- 

 mum width or length, and increases proportionately with the 

 height of the building. This principle is adopted in New 

 York, where the minimum width of exterior courts in buildings 

 five stories high is six feet on the lot line and twelve feet be- 

 tw^een wings, and the minimum area of interior courts on the 

 lot line in buildings of the same height is twelve by twenty four, 

 reduced this winter in three story tenements to eight by four- 

 teen. Such buildings must have an open yard at least twelve 

 feet wide in the rear. The height of rooms is almost univer- 

 sally regulated, the minimum usually being eight feet. The 

 height of tenements is limited in many cities. 



Water supply is prescribed. In New York, water must be 

 furnished on each floor. In Philadelphia and Buffalo, on each 

 floor, for each set of rooms. In Boston, Chicago, Jersey City 

 and Kansas City, in one or more places in the house or yard. 



Water closet accommodation is very generally prescribed. 

 In Philadelphia, and in New York under the new law, there 

 must be one for every apartment. Under the old law in New 

 York, and at present in Chicago and Detroit, there must be one 

 for every two families. In other cities the imit is the number 

 of persons. It is twenty persons in Boston, Baltimore and 

 Denver; ten persons in Rochester. 



