No owner or other person shall rent to another or permit the occupation by another of any vacant dwelling unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy and comply with all applicable legal requirements of the State of Connecticut and the Town of Norfolk.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Norfolk as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-21-1986 STM]
[Amended 5-9-1988 ATM]
An apartment or dwelling unit in any structure containing three or more housing units shall not be occupied for human habitation after a vacancy until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official or his or her assistant, certifying that such apartment or dwelling unit conforms to the requirements of Title 47a, Chapter 833a, of the General Statutes of Connecticut and to all applicable provisions of the State Building and Fire Codes. Application for the certificate is to be made through the office of the Town Building Official.
Any person aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate of occupancy may appeal to the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Litchfield. Such appeal shall be privileged.
The owner or lessor of such structure shall not recover, receive or collect rent for the occupancy of any apartment or dwelling unit for which a certificate of occupancy has not been obtained prior to the rental thereof in violation of § 69-2 of this article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to any structure which has been constructed or substantially reconstructed within the ten-year period immediately before the date such certificate of occupancy would otherwise be required under this article.
[Amended 5-9-1988 ATM]
The Building Official may set a reasonable schedule of fees which are to be paid prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy required by this article.
No person filing an application for a certificate of occupancy shall knowingly make any false statement as to the names, ages, relationship or number of persons who will occupy a dwelling unit.
[Amended 8-9-2007 STM]
Any individual, homeowner or contractor commencing work without first obtaining an approved building permit will be subject to a fine double the standard permit fee. Fines will be imposed by the Town Building Official, and the Building Official will have the discretion of determining the project cost.
Any landlord required to procure a certificate under this article must provide each new tenant with a copy of the certificate upon rental of the unit. Failure to do so will result in a fine of $100 per day.