Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. XII § 12-180
Fair rent commission creation; membership
Operative Text
(a) Pursuant to and in conformity with G.S. §§ 7-148b through 7-148f, 47a-20 and 47a-23c, there is hereby created a fair rent commission to carry out the purposes, duties, responsibilities and all provisions of the above-described sections and any other sections of the statute, as they may be amended from time to time, pertaining to fair rent commissions.
(b) The commission shall consist of seven (7) members and three (3) alternates, all of whom shall be residents of the City of Bristol. Of the seven (7) members, two (2) shall have been landlords for at least one year prior to appointment ("landlord member"); two (2) shall have been tenants for at least one year prior to appointment ("tenant member"); and three (3) shall be electors who were not a landlord or a tenant at the time of appointment nor have been a landlord or a tenant for at least one year prior to their appointment ("elector member"). Among the alternate members, one (1) shall be a landlord, one (1) shall be a tenant, and one (1) shall be an elector who is neither a landlord nor a tenant. Each alternate member shall have the same qualifications as above.
(c) The members and alternates shall be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council.
(d) Members of the commission shall be appointed for staggered terms of three (3) years. One (1) landlord member, one (1) tenant member, and one (1) elector member shall be appointed for a three (3) year term. One (1) landlord member, and one (1) elector member shall be appointed for an initial term of two (2) years. One (1) tenant member and one (1) elector member shall be appointed for an initial term of one (1) year. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.
(e) Alternates of the commission shall have the same requirements as in paragraph (d) above and shall be appointed for staggered terms of three (3) years. The elector who is not a landlord nor a tenant shall be appointed for a three-year term. The landlord alternate shall be appointed for an initial term of two (2) years. The tenant alternate shall be appointed for an initial term of one year. Thereafter, alternates shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.
(f) Reappointment of members and alternates shall be by nomination of the mayor and appointment by the city council, provided that a member or alternate who has served two successive three-year terms is not eligible for reappointment until at least one year has elapsed.
(g) The vacancy of a member shall be filled by the chair of the commission for the balance of the term with the landlord alternate selected to fill a landlord vacancy, the tenant alternate selected to fill a tenant vacancy, and the elector who is neither a landlord nor a tenant selected to fill the elector who is neither a landlord nor a tenant vacancy. A vacancy of an alternate shall be filled by nomination of the mayor and appointment by the city council. A vacancy is created if:
(1) A member or alternate ceases to be a resident in the City of Bristol;
(2) The elector member or elector alternate becomes a landlord or tenant during their appointed term;
(3) A landlord member or landlord alternate ceases to be a landlord in the City of Bristol; or
(4) A tenant member or tenant alternate ceases to be a tenant in the City of Bristol.
(h) A quorum shall consist of four (4) members or seated alternates.
(i) The commission shall elect a chair, vice-chair and secretary annually.
(j) Members and alternates shall serve without compensation.Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. XII § 12-180 establishes a Fair Rent Commission for the City of Bristol, created in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §§ 7-148b through 7-148f, 47a-20, and 47a-23c. The commission is composed of seven members and three alternates, deliberately balanced among landlords, tenants, and neutral electors, all of whom must be Bristol residents. Members and alternates are nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council, serve staggered three-year terms without compensation, and are subject to term limits and specific vacancy-filling procedures.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. XII § 12-180, two of the commission's seven seats are reserved for individuals who have been landlords for at least one year prior to appointment, with one additional landlord alternate. Landlords who serve on the commission must remain active landlords within the City of Bristol throughout their term; ceasing to be a landlord creates a vacancy. Property owners and managers operating in Bristol should be aware that this commission carries out duties related to fair rent under Connecticut state statutes, meaning its decisions and proceedings can directly affect rental operations in the city.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. XII § 12-180 guarantees that tenants have dedicated representation on the Fair Rent Commission, with two of the seven member seats and one alternate seat reserved for individuals who have been tenants for at least one year. This structural balance is intended to ensure that tenant perspectives are present when the commission carries out its responsibilities under Connecticut's fair rent statutes. Tenants who believe a matter falls within the commission's jurisdiction may consider contacting the Bristol Fair Rent Commission directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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