Killingly, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. III § 4-81
Declaration of unfit dwellings
Operative Text
Section 4-81 Declaration of unfit dwellings
A. The Building Official shall declare any premise(s) unfit for human habitation when any of the following defects
or conditions is found and when in the Official’s judgment such defect creates a hazard to the health, safety or
welfare of the occupants or of the public:
(1) Any premise(s) which is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe and/or vermin-infested
and/or contains hazardous levels of lead-based paint or other substance.
(2) Any premise(s) which lacks basic illumination, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, heating or required
sanitation facilities.
(3) The general condition of the premise(s) is unsanitary, unsafe and/or unhealthful.
(4) Any premise(s) which is in violation of §§ 4-46, 4-48 or 4-65B of this code.
B. Whenever any premise(s) has been designated as unfit for human habitation, the Building Official shall
placard the premise(s) indicating that it is unfit for human habitation and, if occupied, shall order such
premise(s) vacated within a reasonable time, said time to be not less than twenty-four (24) hours or more than
ten (10) days. This section shall not restrict any action of the Building Official in vacating such premise(s) if
acting under § 4-80 of this code.
C. Whenever any tenant in any premise(s) is displaced as the result of the enforcement of this code against the
owner, the owner of such building, dwelling, dwelling unit or structure shall be liable for any payments made
by the town to any displaced tenant pursuant to Chapter 135 of the General Statutes. If any owner fails to
reimburse the town for any payments which the town has made to any displaced tenant and for which the
landlord is liable, the town may bring civil action against such owner in Superior Court for the recovery of such
payments and for the costs of the town, together with reasonable attorney's fees, in bringing such action.
D. Whenever any premise(s) has been placarded and vacated, the Building Official may order services and
utilities to be turned off or disconnected and all utility meters to be removed. All charges for discontinuance or
restoration of such services and utilities shall be the owner's expense.
E. For any premise(s) which has been designated as unfit for human habitation and vacated, it shall be the duty
of the owner to close all windows, doors and other openings by suitable means so that unauthorized use or
access into the premise(s) is prevented.
F. No premise(s) which has been designated as unfit for human habitation, has been placarded as such and
vacated shall be used again for human habitation until written approval is secured from the Building Official
and the placard removed by the Building Official.
G. The Building Official shall rescind the designation as unfit for human habitation and remove the placard when
the defect or condition upon which such designation and placarding was based has been removed or
eliminated and the premise(s) is deemed by the Building Official and Fire Marshal as safe, sanitary and a fit
place for human habitation.
H. No person shall deface or remove the placard from any premise(s) which has been designated as unfit for
human habitation and has been placarded as such, except as provided in Subsection F.
I. Whenever any premise(s) has been designated as unfit for human habitation, such order shall be filed with
the Clerk of the Town of Killingly for inclusion in the land records of the town.
J. Any person affected by any decision of the Building Official or by any designation or placarding of a
premise(s) as unfit for human habitation shall upon request be granted a hearing on the matter under the
procedure set forth in § 4-82 of this code. However, such appeal will not stay the designation or placarding of
a premise(s) as unfit for human habitation and the actions required by such order.Under Killingly, CT Code of Ordinances § 4-81, the Building Official has authority to formally declare a dwelling unfit for human habitation when conditions such as structural decay, vermin infestation, hazardous lead paint, or missing basic utilities create a health or safety hazard. Once declared, the property must be placarded, vacated within 10 days (but no fewer than 24 hours), and cannot be reoccupied until the Building Official and Fire Marshal certify it safe and remove the placard. Owners bear the cost of utility disconnections and must secure the property against unauthorized entry; if tenants are displaced, the owner may be held liable for any relocation payments the town makes on their behalf.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to § 4-81 generally maintain their rental units free of decay, vermin, hazardous substances, and deficiencies in plumbing, heating, ventilation, or electrical systems to avoid an unfit-for-habitation designation. Once a placard is issued, a compliant owner promptly secures all openings, covers utility disconnection costs, and makes the repairs necessary to obtain written approval from the Building Official and Fire Marshal before allowing reoccupancy. Owners should also be aware that displacing tenants through code enforcement can trigger financial liability to the town under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 135.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4-81 of the Killingly Rental Housing Standards Code gives tenants the right to request a formal hearing under § 4-82 if they are affected by a Building Official's unfit-for-habitation decision, though filing an appeal does not pause the designation or any required vacating order. If you are displaced because the town enforced this code against your landlord, the owner may be liable for relocation assistance the town provides. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney can help you understand options available under this provision.
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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