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Codes for What is Considered a Half Bath in Detroit or the U.S. in General...

C

Creativewan

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Joined
Jan 25, 2021
Messages
6
Location
Michigan
Hello! I am about to purchase my first fix-it-upper property in Detroit. The property is listed as having 2 Bathrooms. There is a full bathroom upstairs and a room with a sink and toilet in the basement. The closing specialist tells me the DLB considers a sink and toilet as a regular bathroom (they take $$$ of if a property is incorrectly listed). I am beginning to feel and think I am being taken advantage of due to my lack of code knowledge.
Can anyone help me in what codes I need to present to counter before closing in 2 weeks?
Yes, I have tried "googling" answers to this, but I'm only finding codes on sizes and measurements of half baths, not what is considered a half bath in Detroit or the U.S. This is why I joined this forum, hoping someone will be willing to help a newbie out...Thank You and Have a Wonderful Day.
 
Creativewan said:
No shower, just a sink and toilet. Detroit Land Bank is saying it is still considered a regular bathroom. I am trying to find codes to back me up before closing
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So the Bank is causing problems??

If so they should have a definition

It may not come out of the code book.

Other option talk to real estate attorney
 
In California, a Half Bathroom is a room equipped with a water closet and a lavatory (Powder Room). A full bathroom is equipped with a shower, bathtub, OR combination tub/shower.
 
cda said:
Is this a semi government agency???

Policies & Procedures - English

Description
buildingdetroit.org buildingdetroit.org

If so they should fall under open records request provisions

plus some type of appeals process
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No, the DLBA (Detroit Land Bank Authority) is a public authority as defined below:

The Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) is a public authority that owns and manages approximate 100,000 parcels of property in the City of Detroit making it the city's largest landowner. ... The Detroit Land Bank sells houses on its website through multiple programs, including Auction, Own It Now, and Rehabbed & Ready.

I will research their appeals process (that option was not shared with me and I did not know to ask for it. I did ask to talk to someone else regarding the bathroom situation. Thank you again for the information!
 
If you want an official name of these rooms from "codes" in the IRC there isn't one. The closest to it is only "toilet facilities" and "bathtub and shower spaces". Your local zoning code might have different terms.
 
Pretty much accepted terminology throughout the industry. sink/toilet = 1/2 bath and or powder room. sink/toilet/shower only = 3/4 bathroom. sink/toilet/bathtub = full bathroom. A room without any bathing facility cannot be any sort of full or 3/4 bath.
 
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" Bathrooms require an "elimination" fixture, a sink does not comply as one. "
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Sir, ...can you please provide a Code or Standard in support of this statement ?
Also, possibly, ...did you mean to say that "Rest" rooms require an elimination
fixture, and not "Bath" rooms ?

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