Allowable Possessions / Admissible Items
In the residence halls at University X, there are certain items that are not permitted due to safety and compliance reasons. Here is a list of the items that are not allowed:
- Hairdryers, bean bags with fire retardant tags, candles without wicks, coffee makers, clothing irons, curling irons with automatic shut-off, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, kitchen knives with blades less than 6 inches, small area/throw rugs with fire retardant tags, waste baskets with flame retardant properties, and aquariums equal to or smaller than 20 gallons are not permitted.
However, there are several items that are permitted in the residence halls:
- Hairdryers, bean bags with fire retardant tags, candles without wicks, coffee makers, clothing irons, curling irons with automatic shut-off, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, kitchen knives with blades less than 6 inches, small area/throw rugs with fire retardant tags, waste baskets with flame retardant properties, and aquariums equal to or smaller than 20 gallons are allowed.
It is important to note that only one refrigerator per room/unit is permitted, and it should not exceed 5 cubic ft.
The prohibition of certain items extends beyond the residence halls to all housing types, including Traditional, Program, Co-op housing, and Village Housing. The common prohibited items include:
- Flammable or fire hazard items such as candles, candle warmers, incense, incense burners, fog/haze/smoke machines, personal heaters, live decorative trees, flammable substances or fuels such as propane or butane, fireworks, explosive/incendiary devices.
- Electrical items such as extension cords or multi-outlet plugs without surge protectors. Surge protectors with built-in cords are permitted, but daisy-chaining (connecting multiple power strips) is not allowed.
- Decorative lights such as traditional “holiday lights” that plug into outlets and can interconnect, including LED or incandescent bulbs, are not allowed in residence halls and Village Apartments.
- Alcohol containers: Underage possession of alcohol, including empty containers like kegs or beer bongs, is prohibited in all residence halls; consumption is only allowed in private rooms for legal-age students, not in common areas.
- General unsafe items such as illegal drugs, weapons, fireworks, halogen lamps, waterbeds, pets (except small fish tanks in apartments), and certain smart devices/routers are not permitted.
While the core prohibited items are very similar across all housing types, the Village Apartments might allow slightly more home-like comforts but still enforce strict fire and electrical regulations consistent with residence halls. Specific restrictions on decorative lights and extension cords are explicitly noted as applying to both hall types and Village Apartments.
For a detailed list per housing type, it is advisable to check the specific university’s residential life policies or housing contract documents for each community. However, the major prohibited items are consistent across Traditional, Program, Co-op, and Village Housing.
While the majority of prohibited items are similar across all housing types at University X, such as flammable items, certain electrical items, decorative lights, alcohol containers, general unsafe items, and smart devices/routers; the Village Apartments may allow a slight increase in home-like comforts, subject to strict fire and electrical regulations. Interestingly, home improvement items like hairdryers, bean bags with fire retardant tags, candles without wicks, coffee makers, clothing irons, curling irons with automatic shut-off, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, kitchen knives with blades less than 6 inches, small area/throw rugs with fire retardant tags, and aquariums equal to or smaller than 20 gallons are not only allowed in the residence halls but also in the Village Apartments.
