This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 833A, Connecticut General Statutes §§ 7-148(7)(A), 7-148(H)(xi), 47a-6a, 47a-6b, 7-148 and the Town of Rocky Hill Charter.
The Town Council of the Town of Rocky Hill finds that there have occurred numerous incidents of persons renting a residential dwelling in conditions that are unsafe or unsanitary, overcrowded, and are denied the quiet enjoyment of the use thereof, or that the use by the persons renting the property has been maintained so as to create a public nuisance, disturbance or hazard, and the Town has been unable to quickly identify and contact the nonresident owner of the property or the agent in charge and to order a remedy of the unsafe or unsanitary condition. The Town Council also finds that the identification and knowledge of the whereabouts of nonresident owners of residential housing units in the Town of Rocky Hill is in the best interests of the community and will promote the public welfare, health and safety of the people of Rocky Hill. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority granted to municipalities by Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 833A, §§ 47a-6a, 47a-6b, 47a-54a and 7-148(7)(A) and 7-148(H)(xi), and of that authority granted the Town Council by the Town of Rocky Hill Charter, the Town of Rocky Hill seeks to better protect, preserve and promote the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of its people by requiring resident and nonresident owners of residential rental housing units, as that term is defined herein, to comply with this chapter. Following its adoption by the Town Council, this chapter shall become effective 30 days after publication in a newspaper having circulation in this Town.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BASEMENT
A story that is not a story above grade plane.
BEDROOM or ROOMS FOR SLEEPING
That room or rooms designated as a bedroom or sleeping room on the plan or plans for the building as approved by the Town Building Official.
CELLAR
The portion of a building that is located wholly underground.
DWELLING
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.
DWELLING UNIT
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.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER/OFFICIAL
Those officials identified in § 155-5 herein.
EXCEEDS STANDARDS
The particular condition is reasonably expected to meet the standards set forth in the Housing Code for at least the following five years.
EXTERMINATION
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.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
HABITABLE ROOM
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.
INFESTATION
The presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
Any dwelling containing three or more dwelling units, including three or more condominiums located on the same property owned by a single person, entity or limited liability company under common control.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
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.
OCCUPANT
Any person over one year of age living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
(1) 
Holds legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
(2) 
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.
PLUMBING
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.
ROOMING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating 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 to align with CCHD Code.
RUBBISH
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage; 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.
SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION
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.
SUPPLIED
Paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of the owner or operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING
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.
TOTAL RENOVATION
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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for administering and coordinating the Housing Code compliance program in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, and he shall be the enforcing agency and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him. The Town Manager may carry out these duties through the enforcement officials as designated herein.
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by citation issued pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 7-152c, in addition to other remedies. The following persons have authority to issue citations for violations pursuant to this section: Housing Code Inspectors, Town Manager or his/her designee, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Building Officials or his or her designee, Fire Marshal, Health Inspector or Registered Sanitarian, all of which are designated as the Enforcement Officer for the purpose of this chapter.
All accessory structures, including detached garages, sheds, fences, retaining walls and private walkways, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
A. 
The Town Manager or any enforcement official 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 Town of Rocky Hill, by and with the consent of the owner, occupant or person in charge, to determine the condition and occupancy of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises within this Town for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of making such inspections, the Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer, 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 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. or at such other time mutually satisfactory to and agreed upon by the Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer 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 or inconvenience of the 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer. 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer, 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer of proper credentials, may give the Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer right of entry for the purpose of inspection, examination or survey, the Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer shall not enter until he presents a duly issued administrative warrant pursuant to Connecticut law 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer at any time when, in his judgment, an emergency tending to create an immediate danger to the occupants of the dwelling unit, 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 Town Manager or the Enforcement Officer presents a duly issued search warrant to said owner or occupant or person in charge thereof.
Upon reasonable advance notice, 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 Town 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 multiple dwelling 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.
A. 
The parking of vehicles on the property of any multiple dwelling located in any zoning district shall be limited to designated areas located on the same property as the multiple 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 Community Development Services, Planning and Zoning Division of the Town of Rocky Hill 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 Town'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 Town curbing is not allowed);
(5) 
For safety and aesthetic purposes or for reasons of Code compliance, the Department of Community Development Services, Planning and Zoning Division, may require additional conditions under particular or unique circumstances.
Every owner and/or 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 or she occupies and controls.
Every owner of a dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling shall be responsible for extermination of insects, rodents and other pests whenever only one is infested. Whenever infestation is caused by failure of the occupant to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof 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 multiple dwelling, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.
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.