[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Wethersfield as Secs. 3-3-1 through 3-3-14 of the Code
of 1972. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The provisions of this code shall set forth
the minimum conditions for the maintenance of premises, exterior and
interior, of all rooming units, as defined in this code.
[Amended 7-19-1999]
As used in this chapter, 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 Connecticut State Building Code and any other state and
local codes that are applicable.
The Director of Health of the Central Connecticut Health
District[1] and shall include his/her agent.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 29, Central Connecticut
Health District.
A.Â
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.Â
The provisions of this code shall not infringe upon
the provisions of any state or municipal code or ordinance. The code
and/or ordinance which provides the greatest protection for the health,
safety and welfare of the people shall prevail.
[Amended 7-19-1999; 5-5-2003; 5-16-2005]
No person shall operate or be responsible for
control over a rooming unit unless he holds a valid permit issued
by the Director of Health in the name of the operator and for the
dwelling specified in the permit. The fee for such permit shall be
$100 for buildings of one to 25 units, $150 for 26 to 50 units and
$200 for in excess of 50 units. The operator shall apply to the Director
of Health for such permit, which shall be issued by the Director of
Health only after determining that said building is in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter. This permit shall be displayed
in a conspicuous place within the building at all times. No such permit
shall be transferable. The Director of Health or his agents shall
have the right to inspect all rooming units and premises to confirm
compliance with all provisions of this code. Every permit shall expire
one year from the date of issuance.
A.Â
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 ordinances, rules and regulations
of the Town of Wethersfield and the State of Connecticut. Said fixture
group shall be properly connected to an approved disposal system and
to an approved pressure water system.
B.Â
All bathroom fixtures shall be cleaned and sanitized
daily.
C.Â
All linen, blankets and other laundry shall be maintained
on a regular basis. Linen, blankets, bed coverings and mattresses
shall be well-maintained. All clean linen, blankets and other laundry
shall be stored in a separate area in a sanitary and organized manner.
D.Â
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.Â
Extermination necessary to prevent infestation shall
be provided by a professional exterminator registered in the State
of Connecticut.
F.Â
All floor coverings shall be maintained in a clean
and sanitary manner and in good repair.
G.Â
Adequate window screening shall be provided.
H.Â
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 Town Fire Marshal.
I.Â
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 65° F. Hot water shall be provided to a minimum
of 120° F. as measured at the tap or discharge point.
J.Â
Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by the same
tenant(s), in excess of 72 hours shall contain at least 80 square
feet of floor space when occupied by one person. Every room so occupied
for sleeping by more than one person shall contain at least 60 square
feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
K.Â
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 coffee makers 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 Town
Building Department that the existing electrical system is capable
of supporting the use of additional appliances in each room.
[Added 2-17-1998; amended 12-6-2004]
A.Â
All premises shall be graded and maintained so as
to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon.
B.Â
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.Â
All premises shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition, free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
D.Â
All premises shall have sufficient containers kept
secure in a sanitary condition for the disposal of garbage and rubbish.
A.Â
All principal and accessory buildings shall be maintained
structurally sound and in good repair.
B.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequate
for safety, as provided in the Building Code, and shall comply with
the following subsections:
(1)Â
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
Building Code, and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(2)Â
Where deemed necessary for safety, every flight of
stairs which is more than two risers high shall have handrails located
as required by the 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 Building Code. Every handrail and balustrade shall
be firmly fastened and shall be maintained in good condition.
E.Â
Every window, exterior and basement hatchway shall
be substantially tight and shall be kept in sound condition and repair.
F.Â
Every window shall be fully supplied with glass window
panes or an approved substitute which are without open cracks and
holes.
A.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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 he or she resides and shall exhibit a degree
of personal hygiene within the rooming unit so as to maintain safe
and sanitary conditions in compliance with this code. 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.
[Amended 7-19-1999]
A.Â
The Director of Health shall be responsible for the
enforcement of the provisions herein.
B.Â
The Director of Health shall give notice of any violations
of the provisions of this code to the person or persons responsible
therefor. Such notice shall be in writing, including a description
of the real estate sufficient for identification, specifying the violation
which exists and the remedial action required and allowing a reasonable
time for the performance of any act it requires.
The service of notice of violation to the person
or persons responsible for a building or premises shall be one of
the following:
A.Â
By delivery to the owner and operator personally or
by leaving the notice at the usual place of abode of the owner and
operator with a person of suitable age and discretion;
B.Â
By certified or registered mail addressed to the owner
and operator at their last known addresses, with postage prepaid thereon;
or
C.Â
By posting and keeping posted for 24 hours a copy
of the notice in placard form in a conspicuous place on the premises.
[Amended 11-5-1990]
The person or persons responsible for a building
or premises where a violation of any of the provisions of this code
shall exist or who shall maintain any building or premises in which
such violations exist shall be punishable by a fine of not less than
$100 for each violation; provided, however, that where a violation
of any of the provisions of this code also constitute a violation
of Chapter 833a of the Connecticut General Statutes, as the same may
be amended, then the penalties imposed upon the person or persons
responsible for such building or premises or who maintain such buildings
or premises shall be as set forth in Section 47a-55 of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as the same may be amended. For the purposes hereof,
each day that a violation exists after notice of the same is given
to the person or persons responsible for or who maintain such building
or premises shall constitute a new violation and a fine may be imposed
for each such violation.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 75-13, Appeals, and § 75-14,
Appeals Board, both of which were amended 7-19-1999 and which immediately
followed this section, were repealed 4-2-2007.
