[Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 3-1-1999 (§ 124 of the prior compilation); amended in its entirety 3-18-2024[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article was previously amended 2-17-2009.
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Winchester, being marked and designated as the "International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition" as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the Town of Winchester, in the State of Connecticut, for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures as herein provided; and each and all of the regulations of the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, and as amended, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this article, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in § 297-8 of this article.
Nothing in this article or in the International Property Maintenance Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending in any court, or any rights acquitted, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed by this article; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired, or affected by this article.
The International Property Maintenance Code is amended and revised in the following respects:
A. 
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Property Maintenance Code of the Town of Winchester, herein referred to as "this code."
B. 
102.3 Application of other Codes. Repairs, additions or alterations to a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the Connecticut State Building Codes, and the Connecticut State Fire Codes. Nothing in this code shall be construed to cancel, modify, or set aside any provision of the Winchester Zoning Regulations.
C. 
Section 103 DIVISION OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
103.1 General. The Division of Property Maintenance Inspection shall be part of the Town of Winchester's Building Department.
D. 
302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 12 inches in height. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. "Weeds" shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
E. 
304.14 Insect Screens. Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms shall be supplied with an approved, tightly fitting screen.
F. 
602.2 Residential Occupancies. Dwellings shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of 65° F. in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. Cooking appliances shall not be used, nor shall portable unvented fuel-burning space heaters be used as a means to provide required heating. The installation of one or more portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.
G. 
602.3 Heat Supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat for 365 days per year to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F. in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.
H. 
Chapter 7 Fire Safety Requirements. Chapter 7 is deleted except for Section 701.
701.1 Scope. The Connecticut State Fire Safety Code, Connecticut State Fire Prevention Code, and Connecticut State Building Code shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for fire safety relating to structures and exterior premises, including fire safety facilities and equipment to be provided.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates this article shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.