As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A subordinate building customarily incident to a principal
building on the same lot.
A type of structure with exterior walls, erected and framed
of component structural parts, designated for the housing, shelter,
enclosure and support of individuals, which contains one or more rooming
units as defined herein.
The Building Code of the State of Connecticut.
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling,
preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
The presence or evidence of presence within or contiguous
to a structure or premises of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
A lot, plot or parcel of land, excluding the buildings or
structures thereon.
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit
used or intended to be used for living and sleeping purposes which
is leased or rented to the public by its owner and/or its operator
on a commercial or for-profit basis, including tourist courts, motels
and motor courts, but excluding single-family, duplex and apartment
units.
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage,
and including the residue from burning wood, coal, coke and other
combustible material; paper, rags, wood, rubber, tree branches, yard
trimmings, tin cans, metal, mineral matter, glass and dust and other
similar materials.
The occupant of a rooming unit.
A.
Every premises and the exterior and interior portion
of a building which contains a rooming unit, as defined herein, shall
comply with the provisions of this code.
B.
In the event of any inconsistency between this code
and any other applicable state statute, regulation, municipal ordinance
or other law, the provision which provides the greatest protection
for the health, safety and welfare of the people shall prevail.
Any person, firm or corporation owning, operating
or maintaining, within any city, town or political subdivision comprising
the Central Connecticut Health District, any rooming unit shall possess
a valid license issued by the Health District.
A.
Any owner desiring to operate a rooming unit shall,
at least 10 working days prior to the opening of a new rooming unit,
the expiration of an existing license, or the change of ownership,
make written application for a license on forms provided by the Health
District. Such application shall include, but not be limited to, the
name and address of the person responsible for the operation of the
rooming unit, the type and location of the rooming unit and the signature
of each owner or authorized representative.
C.
Prior to the issuance of final approval for license,
the Director of Health or his authorized agent shall inspect the rooming
unit to determine compliance with the provisions of this article,
the Connecticut Public Health Code, any other applicable codes, regulations
or statutes.
D.
The Director of Health shall issue a new license to
the applicant if the inspection reveals that the rooming unit complies
with the requirements of this article, the Connecticut Public Health
Code and any other applicable codes, regulations or statutes. Licensed
facilities must comply with the requirements of this article, the
Connecticut Public Health Code and any other applicable codes, regulations
or statutes.
E.
All licenses shall expire on May 30 of each year,
unless otherwise indicated, and may be renewed for another year upon
application and payment of an annual fee, provided that the rooming
unit is in compliance with this article, the Connecticut Public Health
Code and any other applicable codes, regulations or statutes.
F.
In the case of a transfer of ownership of an existing
rooming unit to a new owner, the new owner shall submit an application
for a license on forms provided by the Health District. The rooming
unit shall be brought into compliance with this article, the Connecticut
Public Health Code and any other applicable codes, regulations or
statutes by correcting all violations before a license to operate
can be issued. The license is not transferable.
The Director of Health or his authorized agent
shall be permitted, after proper identification, to enter at any reasonable
time any rooming unit for the purpose of making inspections, as deemed
necessary by the Director of Health or his authorized agent, to determine
compliance with this article, the Connecticut Public Health Code and
any other applicable codes, regulations or statutes.
A.
The Director of Health may suspend any license to
operate a rooming unit if the license holder does not comply with
the requirements of this article, the Connecticut Public Health Code
or any other applicable code, regulation or statute.
B.
In the event that the Director of Health or his duly
authorized representative finds unsanitary or other conditions in
the operation of the rooming unit which in his judgment constitute
a violation of this article, the Connecticut Public Health Code or
any other applicable code, regulation or statute, the Director of
Health may issue a written notice of intent to suspend the license
to the license holder or operator, citing such conditions, specifying
the corrective action to be taken and specifying the time period within
which such action shall be taken and, if deemed necessary, order immediate
correction.
C.
If correction is not made in the stated time, the
license shall be suspended.
The Director of Health may, after providing
opportunity for hearing and appeal, revoke a license for serious or
repeated violations of any of the requirements of this article, the
Connecticut Public Health Code, other applicable codes, regulations
or ordinances, or for interference with the Director of Health or
his authorized agent in the performance of their duties. Prior to
revocation, the Director of Health shall notify the license holder
or person in charge, in writing, of the reasons for which the license
is subject to revocation and that the license shall be revoked at
the end of 10 days following service of such notice unless an appeal
is filed with the Director of Health by the license holder within
48 business hours of receipt of the notice. If no appeal is filed
within 48 business hours, the revocation of the license becomes final.
Written notices and orders provided for in this
article shall be deemed to have been properly served when a copy of
the notice or order has been delivered personally or sent by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to the owner, permit holder or person
in charge of the rooming unit. Such written notices and orders shall
also be deemed to have been properly served provided it has been posted
on the front entrance door of the main office or upon the nearest
window thereto in such a manner as to be clearly visible to the general
public from the exterior of the facility. Said notice shall not be
defaced or removed by any person except the Director of Health or
his authorized agent. A copy of any such notice or order shall be
filed in the records of the Director of Health.
A.
Suspension. Whenever a license has been suspended,
the holder of the suspended license may make a written request for
license reinstatement. Within 10 days following receipt of a written
request, including a statement signed by the applicant that, in his
opinion, the conditions causing the suspension have been corrected,
the Director of Health or his authorized agent shall make a reinspection.
If the applicant is found to be in compliance with the requirements
of this article, the Connecticut Public Health Code, other applicable
codes, regulations or statutes, and the conditions responsible for
the suspension have been corrected, the license shall be reinstated.
B.
Revocation. After a period of 30 days from the date
of revocation, a written application may be made for the issuance
of a new license. Procedures delineated in this article for obtaining
a new license shall be followed.
The owner or operator of a rooming unit aggrieved
by a written notice or any order described above may, within 48 hours
after the receipt of such notice and/or order, appeal to the Director
of Health, who shall thereupon immediately examine the merits of such
case and may vacate, modify or affirm such written notice or order.
The owner or operator of a rooming unit who is aggrieved by such action
of the Director of Health, may, not later than three business days
after the date of receipt of such notice or order, appeal to the Commissioner
of Health, who shall thereupon immediately notify the authority from
whose order the appeal was taken and examine the merits of such case
and may vacate, modify or affirm such action in accordance with the
Connecticut General Statutes.
A.
Every rooming unit shall be equipped with a complete
bathroom fixture group consisting of a flush water closet, lavatory
basin and bathtub or shower in good working condition and installed
and maintained in a manner prescribed by the Health District, the
Connecticut Public Health Code, the Connecticut Building Code and
any other applicable code, regulation or statute of the State of Connecticut.
Said fixture group shall be properly connected to an approved disposal
system and to an approved pressure water system.
B.
All bathroom fixtures shall be maintained in a sanitary
condition.
C.
Linen, blankets, bed coverings and mattresses shall
be clean and well maintained. Clean sheets and pillowcases shall be
provided for each new occupant and/or provided on a weekly basis.
All clean linen, blankets and other laundry shall be stored in a separate
area in a sanitary and organized manner.
D.
Drinking cups provided by the management shall be
either single-service throwaway-type or glass which is sanitized and
wrapped at each change of occupancy.
E.
Extermination necessary to prevent infestation shall
be provided by a professional exterminator registered in the State
of Connecticut.
F.
All floor coverings shall be maintained in a clean
and sanitary manner and in good repair.
G.
Adequate window screening shall be provided.
H.
All storage areas shall be maintained in a clean,
sanitary and organized manner, free from combustible, flammable materials.
Such materials shall be stored as approved by the Municipal Fire Marshal.
I.
Every rooming unit shall be equipped with heating
facilities which are properly installed and maintained in safe and
acceptable working condition and are capable of safely and adequately
heating all habitable rooms and bathrooms located therein to a minimum
temperature of 65º F. Hot water shall be provided to a minimum
of 110º F. as measured at the tap or discharge point.
J.
Every room occupied for sleeping purposes shall contain
at least 500 cubic feet of air to each occupant over 12 years of age
and at least 300 cubic feet of air for each occupant less than 12
years of age.
K.
No rooming unit may contain temporary kitchen facilities,
including but not limited to a hot plate or similar resistance-heating-coil-device.
The use of resistance-heating-coil-type cooking devices, including
but not limited to stoves, hot plates, electric frying pans, toasters
and toaster ovens, is prohibited in rooming units. Microwave ovens
and coffeemakers listed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and rated
not to exceed 110 volts are permitted only if the owners of the property
hire a licensed electrician to certify to the Municipal Building Official
that the existing electrical system is capable of supporting the use
of additional appliances in each room.
A.
All premises shall be graded and maintained so as
to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon.
B.
All premises shall be kept free from species of weeds
or plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to the public health
and/or in excess of a height of six inches.
C.
All premises shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition, free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
D.
All premises shall have sufficient containers kept
secure in a sanitary condition for the disposal of garbage and rubbish.
A.
All principal and accessory buildings shall be maintained
structurally sound and in good repair.
B.
Every foundation, exterior wall, roof and all other
exterior surfaces shall be maintained in a workmanlike state of maintenance,
and repair shall be kept in such condition as to exclude rodents.
The foundation elements shall adequately support the building at all
points.
C.
Every exterior and interior wall shall be free of
holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers and any other condition
which might admit rain or dampness to the interior portions of the
walls or to the occupied spaces of the building. All exterior and
interior surface material must be adequately protected with paint,
stain or siding in accordance with acceptable standards, and all siding
material must be kept in good repair.
D.
Stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequate
for safety, as provided in the Connecticut Building Code, and shall
comply with the following subsections:
(1)
Every stair, every porch and every appurtenance attached
thereto shall be constructed so as to be safe to use and capable of
supporting the loads to which it is subjected, as required by the
Connecticut Building Code, and shall be kept in sound condition and
good repair.
(2)
Where deemed necessary for safety, every flight of
stairs which is more than two risers high shall have handrails located
as required by the Connecticut Building Code, and every porch which
is more than two risers high shall have handrails so located and of
such design as required by the Connecticut Building Code. Every handrail
and balustrade shall be firmly fastened and shall be maintained in
good condition.
E.
Every window, exterior and basement hatchway shall
be substantially tight and shall be kept in sound condition and repair.
F.
Every window shall be fully supplied with glass window
panes, or an approved substitute, which are without open cracks and
holes.
A.
Each rooming unit shall have electric service and
outlets and/or fixtures capable of providing at least three watts
per square foot of floor area and shall have at least one floor or
wall-type outlet for each 60 square feet or fraction thereof of floor
area. In no case shall there be fewer than two outlets.
B.
Convenient switches for turning on one light in each
room or passageway shall be located so as to permit the area ahead
to be lighted.
C.
Every public hall and stairway in buildings containing
three or more rooming units shall be adequately lighted at all times
so as to provide at least six footcandles of light at the tread or
floor level.
D.
Every public hall and stairway in buildings containing
not more than two rooming units may be supplied with conveniently
located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system which
may be turned on when needed in place of full-time lighting.
All tenants shall be responsible for maintaining
the rooming unit in which they reside and shall exhibit a degree of
personal hygiene within the rooming unit so as to maintain safe and
sanitary conditions in compliance with this article. At no time shall
a tenant infringe upon any neighboring rooming units due to odor,
vermin or any other result emanating from poor sanitary practices.
