[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of West
Haven 3-12-2007; amended in its entirety 6-6-2014. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A location as described by the full street number, if any,
the street name, the city or town, and the state, and not a mailing
address such as a post office box.
One who manages real estate, including but not limited to
the collection of rents and supervision of property.
The name, address, and telephone number(s) of the nonresident
owner and the agent in charge, if any.
Any house or building, or portion thereof, which is rented,
leased, or hired out to be occupied, or is occupied, as the home or
residence of one or more persons, living independently of each other,
and doing their cooking on the premises, and having a common right
in the halls, stairways, or yards.
A.
Any nonresident owner of occupied or vacant rental real property shall maintain on file in the Department of Planning and Development the current residential address and contact information of the nonresident owner of such property, if the owner is an individual, or the current residential address and contact information of the agent in charge of the building if the nonresident owner is a corporation, partnership, trust, or other legally recognized entity owning rental real property in the state. If such residential address changes, notice of the new residential address shall be provided by such nonresidential owner or agent in charge of the building to the office of the City Tax Assessor not more than 21 days after the date that the address change occurred. If the nonresident owner or agent in charge fails to file an address under this section, the address to which the municipality mails property tax bills for the rental real property shall be deemed to be the nonresidential owner or agent's current address. Such address may be used for compliance with the provisions of § 156-3 of this chapter.
B.
Each nonresident owner or agent in charge shall pay a fee of $25
for each initial registration and a fee of $10 for each notice of
residential address change.
Service of state or municipal orders relating to the maintenance of such rental real property or compliance with state law or local codes concerning such real property directed to the nonresident owner or agent at the address on file, or deemed to be on file in accordance to the provisions of § 156-2 of this chapter, shall be sufficient proof of service of notice of such orders in any subsequent criminal or civil action against the owner or agent for failure to comply with the orders. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the validity of any other means of giving notice of such orders that may be used by the state or the City of West Haven.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 51-164p of the
Connecticut General Statutes, the penalty for the first time violation
of this chapter shall be the assessment of a fine in the amount of
$250. For each subsequent violation, the assessed fine shall be in
the amount of $1,000. Any person who is assessed a civil penalty under
this chapter may appeal therefrom to the Superior Court.
An appeal shall be instituted no later than 30 days after the
mailing of notice of such an assessment by filing a petition to reopen
assessment, together with an entry fee in an amount equal to the entire
fee for a small claims case pursuant to § 52-259 of the
Connecticut General Statutes, at the Superior Court facility designated
by the Chief Court Administrator, which shall entitle such person
to a hearing in accordance with the rules of the judges with the Superior
Court.
