Bloomfield, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-61
Demolition
Operative Text
(a) The director of health shall order a premises to be demolished if it has been designated as unfit for human habitation, has been placarded as such, has been vacated, has not been put into proper repair so as to rescind the designation as unfit for human habitation and to cause the placard to be removed and is determined by the director of health not to warrant repair under section 12-59 . (b) The owner of any premises which has been ordered demolished shall be given notice of this order in the manner provided for service of notice in section 12-53 and shall be given a reasonable time, not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days, in which to demolish such structure. (c) Any owner aggrieved by the notice to demolish may, within seven (7) days, seek a reconsideration of the matter in the manner hereinafter provided and may seek a hearing in the manner provided in section 12-55 . (d) When the owner fails, neglects, or refuses to demolish an unfit, unsafe, or unsanitary premises within the requisite time, the director of health may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a demolition order. The court may grant such order when no reconsideration or hearing on the matter is pending. The cost of such demolition shall create a debt in favor of the Town of Bloomfield against such owner; such costs, including all costs, fees, and reasonable attorney's fees shall be recoverable in a civil action brought by the Town of Bloomfield which shall possess all the rights of a private creditor. (e) Whenever a premises is demolished, whether carried out by the owner or by the director of health, such demolition shall include the filling in of the excavation on which the demolished structure was located in such manner as to eliminate all potential danger to the public health, safety and welfare arising from such excavation. (f) All demolition shall be preceded by an inspection of the premises by the director of health to determine whether or not extermination procedures are necessary. If the premises is found to be infested, appropriate rat extermination to prevent the spread of rats to adjoining or other areas shall be instituted before, during and after demolition.
Bloomfield Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VIII § 12-61 establishes a process by which the director of health can order the demolition of a property that has been declared unfit for human habitation, vacated, and determined not worth repairing. Owners receive formal notice and are given up to 120 days to carry out the demolition themselves; if they fail to act, the town may seek a court order and recover all associated costs—including attorney's fees—from the owner as a civil debt. The provision also requires that any demolition, regardless of who performs it, include filling in the excavation and conducting pest inspections to prevent the spread of infestation to neighboring properties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bloomfield Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VIII § 12-61, property owners who receive a demolition order are expected to act within the notice period—up to 120 days—to complete the work and properly fill in any resulting excavation. Compliant operators also arrange for a pre-demolition pest inspection and, if infestation is found, coordinate extermination before, during, and after the demolition process. Owners who believe the order is unwarranted have a narrow seven-day window to seek reconsideration or request a hearing under the procedures referenced in the ordinance, making timely review of any notice critical.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bloomfield Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VIII § 12-61 is primarily directed at property owners and the director of health, but it has direct implications for tenants living in buildings that have been declared unfit for human habitation and vacated. If a building subject to this provision has not been properly repaired or the demolition process has not followed the required steps—such as proper notice to the owner or mandatory pest control measures—tenants and community members may raise those procedural concerns with the Bloomfield director of health or a local tenant-rights organization. Tenants facing displacement connected to an unfit-premises designation may also wish to consult with a housing attorney or legal aid organization familiar with local ordinance procedures.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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