A.
BASEMENT
CELLAR
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENFORCEMENT
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENFORCEMENT
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DWELLING
DWELLING UNIT
EXCEEDS STANDARDS
EXTERMINATION
GARBAGE
HABITABLE ROOM
INFESTATION
MULTIPLE DWELLING
NEW CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPANT
OPERATOR
OWNER
(1)
(2)
PLUMBING
ROOMING HOUSE
ROOMING UNIT
RUBBISH
SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION
SUPPLIED
TEMPORARY HOUSING
TOTAL RENOVATION
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A portion of a building located partly underground but having
less than 1/2 its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average
grade of the adjoining ground.
A portion of a building located partly or wholly underground
and having 1/2 or more than 1/2 of its clear floor-to-ceiling height
below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
The legally designated department charged with administrating
the Building Code and Housing Code and pertaining ordinances as designated
by the City Council.
The Department Head of the Department of Development and
Enforcement.
The legally designated health authority of the City, or his
authorized representative.
Any building which is wholly or partly used or arranged or
designed to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants, provided
that temporary housing as hereinafter defined shall not be regarded
as a "dwelling."
Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and
forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used, arranged
or designed to be occupied for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
The particular condition is reasonably expected to meet the
standards set forth in the Housing Code for at least the following
five years.
The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other
pests by eliminating their harborage places, by removing or making
inaccessible materials that may serve as food, by poisoning, spraying
fumigating or trapping or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination
methods approved by the Director of Health and Human Services.
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling,
preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
A room of enclosed floor space used or intended to be used
for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms,
water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating
corridors, closets and storage spaces.
The presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects,
rodents or other pests.
Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
A dwelling or dwelling unit that is new from the ground up
including a new foundation, new utility services, and all new material
constructed with all applicable approvals, permits, inspections and
certifications as required by the Building Official.
Any person over one year of age living, sleeping, cooking
or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming
unit.
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building,
or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit with
or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling
unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator,
administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any
such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply
with the provisions of this chapter and of the rules and regulations
adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
Includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment:
gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units,
waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories,
bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch
basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together
with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.
Any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling containing one
or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator
to three or more persons who are not the husband or wife, son or daughter,
mother or father or sister or brother of the owner or operator.
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit
used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but for no cooking
or eating purposes.
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage;
and the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal,
coke and other combustible material, paper, rags, cartons, boxes,
wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin
cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust.
A dwelling or dwelling unit that has been renovated within
the past 24 months (from the date of inspection) to bring all electrical,
plumbing and heating systems up to current code; new or like new windows,
doors, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and no defective interior or
exterior surfaces and porches, stairs and railings must meet current
code whether new or existing. Substantial renovation to be confirmed
by all applicable permits, inspections and signatures of the Building
Official.
Paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of
the owner or operator.
Any tent, trailer or other structure used for human shelter
which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to
the ground, to another structure or to any utilities system on the
same premises for more than 30 consecutive days.
An entire dwelling or dwelling unit that has been gutted
and newly renovated with code compliant electrical, plumbing, HVAC,
windows, doors, insulation, stairs, railings, roofing, siding, porches
and foundation. Total renovation to be designated by the final approval
of the Building Official, upon confirmation of proper permits and
inspections.
B.
Meaning of certain words. Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling
unit," "rooming house," "rooming unit" or "premises" are used in this
chapter, they shall be construed as if they were followed by the words
"or any part thereof."
The Director of Development and Enforcement shall be responsible
for administering and coordinating the Housing Code compliance program
in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, and he shall perform
such other duties as may be delegated to him. All references in this
chapter to inspections by the Director of Development and Enforcement
shall also apply to other inspectors within the Department of Development
and Enforcement.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter may, in
addition to other remedies, including but not limited to criminal
prosecution, be fined up to $100, and each day's failure to comply
with any such provision shall constitute a separate violation.
B.
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by citation, in addition
to other remedies. The following persons have authority to issue citations
for violations pursuant to this section: Housing Code Inspectors,
Director of Development and Enforcement, Zoning Enforcement Officer,
Building Official, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing and Heating Inspector
and Rehabilitation Specialist.
All accessory structures, including detached garages, sheds,
fences, retaining walls and private walkways shall be maintained structurally
sound and in good repair.
A.
The Director of Development and Enforcement is hereby authorized
and directed to make periodic inspections within the purview of this
chapter and such inspections as are required by a code compliance
program of the City of Meriden, by and with the consent of the owner,
occupant or person in charge, to determine the condition of dwellings,
dwelling units, rooming units and premises within this City for the
purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
For the purpose of making such inspections, the Director of Development
and Enforcement, with the consent of the owner, occupant or person
in charge, is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey all dwellings,
dwelling units, rooming units and premises, between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or at such other time mutually satisfactory to
and agreed upon by the Director of Development and Enforcement and
the owner and occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit
or the person in charge thereof. Such inspection, examination or survey
shall not have for its purpose the undue harassment of owner or occupant,
and such inspection, examination or survey shall be made so as to
cause the least amount of inconvenience to said owner or occupant,
consistent with an efficient performance of the duties of the Director
of Development and Enforcement. To further ensure that the policy
of this chapter, which is to achieve compliance through cooperation
of owners and occupants, shall be successfully maintained, it shall
be the practice of the Director of Development and Enforcement, whenever
practicable, to provide reasonable advance notice to owners and/or
occupants of inspections.
B.
The owner or occupant of each dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit
or premises, or the person in charge thereof, upon presentation by
the Director of Development and Enforcement of proper credentials,
may give the Director of Development and Enforcement entry to the
dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises and free access
to every part thereof, provided that no inspection shall be conducted
except during the hours designated above.
C.
Whenever an owner, occupant or person in charge of a dwelling, dwelling
unit, rooming unit or premises shall deny the Director of Development
and Enforcement right of entry for the purpose of inspection, examination
or survey, the Director of Development and Enforcement shall not enter
until he presents a duly issued search warrant describing the dwelling,
dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises to the owner, occupant or
person in charge thereof or is otherwise authorized to enter by court
order.
D.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the entry
of the Director of Development and Enforcement at any time when, in
his judgment, an emergency tending to create an immediate danger to
the public welfare or safety exists or when such entry is requested
by the owner, occupant or person in charge of the dwelling, dwelling
unit, rooming unit or premises or when the Director of Development
and Enforcement presents a duly issued search warrant to said owner
or occupant or person in charge thereof.
Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit
shall give the owner thereof, or his agent or employee, access to
any part of such dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit, or its premises,
at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or
alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions
of this chapter or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any
lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
In any case where a provision of this chapter is found to be
in conflict with a provision of any other provision of the City code
existing on the effective date of this section, the provision which
establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection of
the health and safety shall prevail.
Every owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units
shall be responsible for maintaining in a safe, clean and sanitary
condition the interior and exterior shared or public areas of the
dwelling and premises thereof property.
[Amended 7-6-2020]
A.
The parking of vehicles on the property of any dwelling located in any zoning district as defined in Chapter 213 of the City Code shall be limited to designated areas located on the same property as the dwelling.
B.
The parking areas are to be designated by and are the responsibility
of the owner.
C.
All designated parking areas must be approved by the Department of
Development and Enforcement of the City of Meriden and must conform
to the following conditions:
(1)
The designated parking area shall be located within the side or rear
yard wherever possible;
(2)
The designated parking area shall not be located such that any vehicle
parking in this area will overhang the sidewalk within the City's
right-of-way or obstruct access to the main entrance;
(3)
The designated parking area shall be paved with a dust-free all-weather
surface;
(4)
The designated parking area shall have a paved apron between the
edge of the roadway and the front property line (driving over City
curbing is not allowed);
(5)
For safety and aesthetic purposes or for reasons of code compliance,
the Department of Development and Enforcement may require additional
conditions under particular or unique circumstances.
Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in
a safe, clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling
unit and premises thereof which he occupies and controls.
Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose all their garbage/rubbish, in a clean, safe and sanitary manner by placing their garbage/rubbish in approved containers (refer to Chapter 176) and placing containers at their curbside no more than 24 hours prior to scheduled collection and removed no later than 24 hours after said collection and, if feasible, stored in an area not readily visible from the street.
Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit
shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents
or other pests therein or on the premises, and every occupant of a
dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit
shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling
unit is the only one infected. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this section, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the
owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonably insectproof
condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in
a dwelling or in the shared or public areas of any dwelling containing
two or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility
of the owner.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises
in the City to allow grass to grow more than one foot in height, unless
such grass is to be harvested as hay, or to allow any weeds or similar
growth to grow more than one foot in height, or to allow any weed
or other plant which causes hay fever or similar diseases to grow,
or to allow any wild and untrimmed bushes to grow, on any land fronting
on a paved street or on any interior lot bounded on three or more
sides by land fronting on any such street.
Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures
therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible
for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation
thereof.
A.
Definition. "Lead paint" shall mean any pigmented, liquid substance
applied to surfaces by brush, roller or spray in which the total nonvolatile
ingredients contain more than 0.06% of lead, by weight, calculated
as metallic lead.
B.
Prohibited conduct. No person shall apply lead paint to the interior
or exterior surfaces of any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit,
rooming unit or facility nor on or around the common areas thereof
and any other structure located within the same lot line.
C.
Hazardous conditions. Where the Department of Development and Enforcement
determines that the presence of defective paint upon any premises
creates a potential hazard to children, any suspected violation shall
be referred to the Health Department, and the owner or occupant shall
eliminate the hazard in accordance with lead-safe work practices,
local and state codes and the U.S. EPA renovation, repair and painting
program rule.
