Chapter 310. To provide, in the interest of public health, comfort, morals, and safety, for the discontinuance of the use as dwellings of buildings situated in the alleys in the District of Columbia
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CHAP. 310.— An Act To provide, in the interest of public health, comfort, morals, and safety, for the discontinuance of the use as dwellings of buildings situated in the alleys in the District of Columbia. September 25, 1914. [[H. R. 13219](/us/bill/63/hr/13219).] [[Public, No. 202](/us/pl/63/202).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, District of Columbia. Dwellings in alleys less than thirty feet wide restricted.
That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be unlawful in the District of Columbia to erect, place, or construct any dwelling on any lot or parcel of ground fronting on an alley where such alley is less than thirty feet wide throughout its entire length and which does not run straight to and open on two of the streets bordering the square, and is not supplied with sewer, water mains, and gas or electric light; and in this Act the term “alley” shall include any and all courts, passages, and 717thoroughfares, whether public or private, and any ground intended for or used as a highway other than the public streets or avenues; and any dwelling house now fronting an alley less than thirty feetRepairs, etc., forbidden. wide and not extending straight to the streets and provided with sewer, water main, and light, as aforesaid, which has depreciated or been damaged more than one-half its original value, shall not be repaired or reconstructed as a dwelling or for use as such, and no permit shall be issued for the alteration, repair, or reconstruction of such a building, when the plans indicate any provision for dwelling purposes: *Provided*, That rooms for grooms or stablemen to be*Proviso*.
Rooms in stables. employed in the building to be erected, repaired, or reconstructed may be allowed over stables, when the means of exit and safeguards against fire are sufficient, in the opinion of the inspector of buildings, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia; and no building now or hereafter erected fronting on an alley or on any parcel of ground fronting on anNew dwellings, etc., forbidden. alley less than thirty feet wide and not otherwise in accordance with this Act shall be altered or converted to the uses of a dwelling.
Any such alley house depreciated or damaged more than one-half of its original value shall be condemned as provided by law for the removal of dangerous or unsafe buildings and parts thereof, and for other purposes. No dwellingWidth of roadway required hereafter. house hereafter erected or placed along any alley and fronting or facing thereon shall in any case be located less than twenty feet back clear of the center line of such alley, so as to give at least a thirty-foot roadway and five feet on each side of such roadway clear for a walk or footway, and any stable or other building hereafter placed, located, altered, or erected on or along such an alley upon which a dwelling faces or fronts shall be set back clear of the walk or footway the same as the dwelling or dwellings, but the fact that dwellings are located in such alleys shall not affect the location of stables or other buildings otherwise.
The use or occupation of any building or other structure erectedUse of prescribed buildings unlawful after July 1, 1916. or placed on or along any such alley as a dwelling or residence or place of abode by any person or persons is hereby declared injurious to life, to public health, morals, safety, and welfare of said District; and such use or occupation of any such building or other structure on, from, and after the first day of July, nineteen hundred and eighteen, shall be unlawful.
Sec. 2. That any person or persons, whether as principal, agent, or employee,Penalty for violations. violating any of the provisions of this Act or any amendment thereof for the violation of which no other penalty is prescribed, shall, on conviction thereof in the police court, be punished by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each such violation, and a like fine for each day during which such violation has continued or may continue, to he recovered as other fines and penalties are recovered.
Sec. 3. That the Act of Congress approved July twenty-second,Former laws repealed. Vol. 27, p. 255, repealed. Vol. 33, p. 733. eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled “An Act regulating the construction of buildings along alleyways in the District of Columbia,” and all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the previsions hereof, are hereby repealed. Approved, September 25, 1914.