Ind. Admin. Code tit. 440, r. 7.5-2-12 – Physical requirements

Sec. 12. (a) The living area shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The residence must be in good repair and free of hazards, such as the following:
1. (A) Loose or broken window glass.
2. (B) Loose or cracked floor coverings or ceilings.
3. (C) Holes in the walls.
(2) The residence must be kept free from flying insects by screens on all functional outside windows and doors or by other effective means.
(3) The resident's bedroom shall have at least one (1) window capable of being fully opened for escape and rescue purposes and proper ventilation unless it is part of a sub-acute facility that meets the fire prevention and building safety commission requirements for an I-3 occupancy as adopted by reference under 675 IAC 13-2.4-1(a).

(b) The residence shall be clean, neat and orderly. The agency or its subcontractor shall ensure that the resident maintains cleanliness of the residence.

(d) All rooms used for eating, sleeping, and living shall be provided with adequate light and ventilation by means of windows as needed for safety purposes.

(e) The following shall not be used as a residence unless the division grants a waiver:

(1) Basement rooms or rooms below grade level.
(2) Attics and other areas originally intended for storage.
(3) Sleeping rooms in resident hotels or motels.

(f) The division shall not grant a waiver unless the:

(1) illumination;
(2) ventilation;
(3) temperature; and
(4) humidity control;

provide the same level of comfort as rooms not requiring a waiver, and if the room is below grade, or an attic or other area originally intended for storage, at least one (1) direct exit to the outside must be provided.

(g) Bedrooms shall not be located in such a manner as to require the passage of a resident through the bedroom of another resident.

(h) A single occupancy bedroom for an adult must have eighty (80) square feet or more of floor space.

(i) A multiple occupancy bedroom must have sixty (60) square feet or more of floor space for each adult occupant.

(j) There must be at least one (1) toilet and lavatory for every four (4) residents and one (1) tub or shower for every six (6) residents.

(k) The per person requirements of square footage and bathroom facilities do not apply to the following:

(1) A consumer with his or her children living with him or her in the facility.
(2) A sub-acute facility or a transitional residential facility that was given a waiver regarding the maximum number of residents prior to January 1, 2002, and is accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the division. This waiver is not transferable.

(l) Ceiling heights in bedrooms shall be a minimum of seven (7) feet, six (6) inches. If the bedroom has a suspended or sloping ceiling, the specified ceiling heights must be met in all areas used in computation of floor space.

(m) If a private water supply or sewage system is used, the residence shall comply with local regulations regarding sanitation. Evidence of compliance shall be provided by the landlord to the agency or, if the residence is a sub-acute facility or a supervised group living facility, to the division.

(n) There shall be cooking facilities and food storage areas.

(o) The food preparation and serving areas, including the structure, construction, and installation of equipment, shall be in sanitary condition and operating properly. Food storage areas shall be properly refrigerated and protected from contamination. Storage areas for nonfood supplies shall be separate from food storage areas. Appliances, fixtures, and equipment shall be adequate for sanitary washing and drying of dishes.

(p) The facility shall ensure that arrangements are made to allow residents to launder personal items and linens at least weekly. If laundry is done on the premises, equipment must be kept in working order.

(Division of Mental Health and Addiction; 440 IAC 7.5-2-12; filed Jun 10, 2002, 2:25 p.m.: 25 IR 3134; filed Mar 30, 2005, 3:00 p.m.: 28 IR 2360; readopted filed Nov 5, 2008, 3:50 p.m.: 20081119-IR-440080742RFA; readopted filed Jul 21, 2011, 9:39 a.m.: 20110817-IR-440110249RFA; readopted filed Jun 19, 2017, 10:11 a.m.: 20170719-IR-440170221RFA; readopted filed May 10, 2023, 2:25 p.m.: 20230607-IR- 440230142RFA)