The following definitions shall apply in
the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter. Section 201.0 of the Connecticut
State Basic Building Code applies by reference.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A detached structure which is not used or not intended to be used
for living or sleeping by human occupants and which is located on the same
premises with a dwelling.
APPROVED
Approved by the local or state authority having such administrative
authority.
ASHES
The residue from the burning of combustible materials (and the noncombustible
portion of refuse loaded into an incinerator).
BASEMENT
The portion of the building partly underground, but having less than
half its clear height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
CELLAR
The portion of the building partly underground but having less than
half its clear height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM
A single system supplying heat to one or more than one dwelling unit
or more than one rooming unit.
DWELLING
Any enclosed space which is wholly or partly used or intended 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 or intended to be used
for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The official designated herein or otherwise charged with the responsibilities
of administering this code, or his authorized representative.
EXTERMINATION
The control, destruction and elimination of insects, rodents or other
pests by eliminating their harborages, by removing or by making inaccessible
materials that may serve as their food and by the use of poisoning, spraying,
fumigating, trapping or any other pest elimination methods approved by the
enforcing officer.
FAMILY
One adult person plus one or more persons who are legally related
to said person and residing in the same dwelling unit with said person.
FLUSH WATER CLOSET
A toilet bowl flushed with water under pressure with a water-sealed
trap above the floor level.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation,
cooking, serving and nonconsumption of food, and shall also mean combustible
waste material.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
The total area of all habitable space in a building or structure.
GUEST
Any person who shares a dwelling unit in a nonpermanent status for
not more than 30 days.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living,
sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments,
laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, kitchenettes and utility rooms of less
than 50 square feet, foyers or communicating corridors, stairways, closets,
storage space and workshops, hobby and recreation areas in unsealed or uninsulated
parts of a structure below ground level or in attics.
HEALTH OFFICER
The duly designated health authority of the Town of Bethel or his
authorized representative.
HEATED WATER
Water heated to a temperature of not less than 120º F. at the
outlet.
HOUSEHOLD
A family and/or one or more unrelated persons, including servants
and not more than two boarders, who share the same dwelling and use some or
all of its cooking and eating facilities.
HOUSING OFFICIAL
The official charged with the administration and enforcement of this
chapter, or his authorized representative.
INFESTATION
The presence in large numbers within or around a dwelling or other
structure of insects, rodents or other pests.
KITCHEN or KITCHENETTE
Any room containing any or all of the following equipment or area
of a room within three feet of such equipment: sink and/or other device for
dishwashing, stove or other device for cooking and refrigerator or other device
for cool storage of food.
KITCHEN SINK
A sink of a size and design adequate for the purpose of washing eating
and drinking utensils, located in a kitchen, properly connected with a cold
and hot water line.
LAVATORY
A handwashing basin which is properly connected with both a hot and
cold water line and which is separate and distinct from a kitchen sink.
LEAD PAINT
Any pigmented liquid substance applied to surfaces by brush, roller
or spray in which the total nonvolatile ingredient contains more than 1% of
lead, by weight, calculated as metallic lead.
OCCUPANT
Any person, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating
in or actually having possession of a rental dwelling unit or a rental rooming
unit, except that in dwelling units a guest will not be considered an occupant.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part
thereof, in which rental dwelling units or rental rooming units are let.
ORDINARY WINTER CONDITIONS
A temperature 15º F. above the lowest recorded out-of-door temperature
in the locality for the prior ten-year period.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
(1)
Shall have legal title to any rental dwelling, premises or dwelling
unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
(2)
Shall have charge, care or control of any rental dwelling, premises
or dwelling unit as owner or agent of the owner, or an executor, administrator,
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 rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto to the same extent as
if he were the owner.
PERMISSIBLE OCCUPANCY
The maximum number of persons permitted as family or household to
reside in a rental dwelling unit or rooming unit based on the square footage
per person in habitable rooms.
PERSON
Includes any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership.
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, septic tank systems or gas lines.
POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
Any material, including building material, containing lead and/or
other toxic heavy metal compound in concentrations dangerous to the public
health as deemed by the State Department of Health.
PREMISES
A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land
or plot of land, either occupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure,
and includes any such building, accessory structure or other structures thereon.
PRIVACY
The ability of a person or persons to carry out an activity commenced
without interruption or interference, either by sight or sound by unwanted
persons.
RATPROOFING
A form of construction which will prevent the ingress or egress of
rats to or from a given space or building or their gaining access to food,
water or harborage. It consists of the closing and keeping closed of every
opening in foundations, basements, cellars and exterior and interior walls.
REFUSE
All putrescible and nonputrescible solids (except body wastes), including
garbage, rubbish, ashes and dead animals. The term shall also include paper,
rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard
trimmings and other combustible waste materials.
ROOMING HOUSE
Any dwelling or that part of any dwelling containing one or more
rooming units in which space is occupied by three or more persons who are
not members of a single family.
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.
RUBBISH
Nonputrescible solid wastes (excluding ashes) consisting of both:
(1)
Combustible wastes, such as old batteries, paint scrapings, paper, cardboard,
plastic containers, yard clippings and wood; and
(2)
Noncombustible wastes, such as tin cans, glass and crockery.
SAFETY
The condition of being free from danger and hazards which may cause
accidents or disease.
SEPTIC TANK
A receptacle, usually underground, to which sewage is drained and
retained to effect disintegration of the organic matter by bacteria and as
defined in Section 19-13-B20A of the Connecticut Public Health Code.
SPACE HEATER
A self-contained, vented, fuel-burning appliance of either the circulating
type or the radiant type.
SUPPLIED
Paid for, furnished, provided by or under the control of the owner
or operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING
Any tent, trailer, mobile home or any other structure used for human
shelter which is designed to be transportable and is not attached to the ground,
to another structure or to any utility system on the same premises for more
than 30 consecutive days.
TOILET
A water closet, with a bowl and trap made in one piece, which is
of such shape and form that it holds a sufficient quantity of water under
pressure so that no fecal matter will collect on the surface of the bowl and
which is equipped with flushing rims which permit the bowl to be properly
flushed and scoured when water is discharged through the flushing rims.
VENTILATION
The process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical
means to or from any space.