Town of Bethel, CT Chapter 43 Buildings, Demolition of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Bethel 9-4-1990, effective 10-12-1990. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Building construction — See Ch. 42.

Dumpsters — See Ch. 52.

§ 43-1 Permit required.

No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall demolish any building, structure or part thereof without first obtaining a permit from the Building Department. No such permit shall be issued until the applicant:

A. Complies with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 29-406.

B. Complies with the provisions of § 43-2 if the building, structure or part thereof to be demolished is 500 square feet in size or larger and was constructed more than 50 years prior to the date of application.

§ 43-2 Conditions for issuance.

With respect to any application to demolish a building, structure or part thereof which is 500 square feet in size or larger and was constructed more than 50 years prior to the date of application, in addition to the applicant's complying with the provisions of § 43-1 above, prior to the issuance of a demolition permit:

A. The Building Inspector or his designee shall:

(1) Publish a legal notice of the demolition permit application in a daily or weekly newspaper having substantial circulation in the municipality. The notice shall be published within 10 days following the filing of the demolition permit application. Such notice shall state the following:

(a) When an application has been filed for a demolition permit.

(b) The date of the filing of such application.

(c) The location and identification of the property.

(d) The name and address of the owner of the property.

(2) Within seven days following the filing of the demolition permit application, provide, by first class mail, a copy of the legal notice required under Subsection A(1) to any registered individual, firm, corporation, organization or other entity concerned with the preservation of structures within Bethel or the social and economic development of the neighborhood in which the building is located. To be registered for notification under this provision, any such organization, individual, firm, corporation or other entity shall register with the Building Inspector and indicate a desire to be notified of demolition permit applications.

B. The applicant shall, within seven days following the filing of the demolition permit application, provide, by first class mail, a copy of the legal notice required under Subsection A(1) above to the owners of all properties within 100 feet of the boundary of the property on which the building(s) to be demolished is located. The identity of the owners entitled to notification under this provision shall be those property owners within 100 feet as shown on the then-current Assessor's map.

§ 43-3 Waiting period; waiver.

With respect to any application to demolish any building, structure or part thereof covered under § 43-2 above, there will be a waiting period of 90 days following the filing of the application for the demolition permit. If there is no written opposition to the issuing of the demolition permit received by the Building Inspector within 30 days of publication of the legal notice, the balance of the waiting period may be waived.

§ 43-4 Term.

Any demolition permit shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance.

§ 43-5 Violations and penalties.

Failure to comply with the above provisions shall result in a penalty of a fine of not more than $500.

§ 43-6 Permit fee.

The applicant shall pay a fee of $35 or 1% of assessed value, whichever is greater, for said demolition permit.

§ 43-7 Applicability.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any demolition ordered by the Building Inspector because of an emergency or threat to public health and/or safety.