This chapter shall be known as the "Housing
and Property Maintenance Code of the Town of West Hartford," hereinafter
referred to as "this code," and the standards established by this
code shall be referred to as and constitute the minimum property standards
of the Town of West Hartford.
This code is intended to protect, preserve and
promote public health, safety and welfare; to prevent and control
the incidence of communicable diseases; and to reduce environmental
hazards to health and safety, insofar as they are affected by the
maintenance of residential and nonresidential structures, equipment
and premises as provided by this code. This code is further intended
to provide minimum and uniform standards governing the condition,
occupancy and maintenance of occupied and unoccupied premises and
establish reasonable safeguards for the health, safety and welfare
of the occupants and users of said premises, the community and the
general public to ensure that the maintenance and upkeep of these
premises is adequate for protection of public health, safety and welfare.
Interpretation of this code shall be made in such a manner as to afford
maximum protection of the public health, safety and welfare and violations
of this code are specifically declared to constitute public nuisances.
A.
This code shall apply uniformly to the maintenance,
use and occupancy of all premises now in existence or hereafter constructed,
maintained or modified and shall include:
(1)
Dwellings or dwelling units, including one- and two-family
dwellings and multiple dwellings as defined herein, except as specifically
excluded, and any habitable room used for sleeping and/or living purposes.
(2)
Lots, plots or parcels of land whether vacant or occupied.
(3)
Buildings of nondwelling use.
(4)
Accessory structures, accessory to any building.
(5)
All apartments, boardinghouses, group homes, lodging
houses, rooming houses, tenement houses and unrelated family units.
A.
No person shall maintain any premises which does not
comply with the requirements and applicable minimum property standards
of this code.
B.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to
another for occupancy or use any dwelling or dwelling unit or habitable
room, for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein,
which does not comply with the requirements and minimum property standards
of this code.
C.
All landlords shall comply with the requirements of
this code and C.G.S. § 47a-7.
D.
All tenants shall be responsible for complying with
the requirements of this code and C.G.S. § 47a-11.
A.
Unless otherwise specified or granted, the provisions
of this code shall apply uniformly to the alterations, repair, equipment,
use, occupancy and maintenance of all existing premises within the
Town of West Hartford irrespective of when or under what code or codes
such premises were originally constructed, rehabilitated or maintained.
B.
The provisions in this code shall not be construed
to prevent the enforcement of other statutes, codes, ordinances or
regulations which prescribe standards other than are provided in this
code.
C.
In any case where a provision of this code is found
to be in conflict with a provision of any zoning, building, fire,
safety or health ordinance, regulation or other code of the Town or
state, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the
promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people shall
prevail.
D.
This code shall not affect violations of any other
ordinance, code or regulation existing prior to the effective date
of this code, and any such violation may be governed and continue
to be punishable under the provisions of those ordinances, codes or
regulations in effect at the time the violation was committed.
E.
Any alterations to buildings or structures or changes of use therein, which may be caused directly or indirectly by enforcement of this code, shall comply with Chapter 58, Building Construction, Article II, Building Code, in accordance with § 105-5C, and any and all necessary building permits shall be obtained prior to their performance.
F.
When other Town ordinances are expressly referred
to in this code, they shall be construed as if included in this code
and shall be enforceable under this code.
If any terms, phrase, sentence, paragraph, section
or article of this code shall be declared invalid for any reason,
such decision shall not affect the remaining parts of this code, and
such parts shall continue in full force and effect and are hereby
declared to be severable.