[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.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Committees, boards, commissions, etc. — See Ch. 10.
Building construction — See Ch. 63.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 83.
Solid waste — See Ch. 136.
Zoning — See Ch. 167.
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:
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A subordinate building customarily incident to a principal building on the same lot.
BUILDING
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.
BUILDING CODE
The Connecticut State Building Code and any other state and local codes that are applicable.
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
The Director of Health of the Central Connecticut Health District[1] and shall include his/her agent.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
INFESTATION
The presence or evidence of presence within or contiguous to a structure or premises of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land, excluding the buildings or structures thereon.
ROOMING UNIT
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.
RUBBISH
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.
TENANT
The occupant of a rooming unit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 29, Central Connecticut Health District.
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. 
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. 
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. 
All bathroom fixtures shall be cleaned and sanitized daily.
C. 
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. 
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 Town 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 65° F. Hot water shall be provided to a minimum of 120° F. as measured at the tap or discharge point.
J. 
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. 
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. 
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 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 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 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. 
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 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. 
The Director of Health shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions herein.
B. 
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. 
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. 
By certified or registered mail addressed to the owner and operator at their last known addresses, with postage prepaid thereon; or
C. 
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.