New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-133
Room heaters; requirements; approval
Operative Text
(a) No owner or occupant shall install, operate or use any portable heater burning solid, liquid or gaseous fuels. (b) When a dwelling or dwelling unit is heated by room heaters, the following requirements shall apply: A permit must be received from the building department for installation; the unit must pass inspection before use. (1) Every room heater burning solid, liquid or gaseous fuels shall be properly vented to a chimney or duct leading to outdoor space. (2) Every coal or wood-burning room heater shall have a fire-resistant panel beneath it. (3) Every room heater located close to a wall shall be equipped with insulation sufficient to prevent overheating of the wall. (4) Every room heater smoke pipe shall be equipped with guards made of metal or other nonflammable material at the point where the pipe goes through the wall, ceiling or partition. (5) The above installations shall be annually inspected and approved by the city fire department or the chief building inspector. (c) The requirements of the state basic building code must be adhered to. Those include, but are not limited to, the provisions of the state basic building code, section 1822.5, or as amended.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 6 § 13-133 prohibits anyone from installing or using portable heaters that burn solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. When a dwelling relies on room heaters for heat, those heaters must be permitted by the building department and pass inspection before use. Specific safety requirements apply, including proper venting, fire-resistant panels under coal or wood-burning units, wall insulation, and metal guards on smoke pipes, with annual inspections conducted by the city fire department or chief building inspector.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 6 § 13-133, compliant property owners obtain a building department permit before any room heater installation and ensure the unit passes inspection prior to tenant use. Operators maintain each heater's venting, fire-resistant panels, wall insulation, and smoke-pipe guards in accordance with the ordinance's technical requirements. Annual inspections by the city fire department or chief building inspector are a recurring compliance obligation, and adherence to the state basic building code, including section 1822.5, is also required.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 6 § 13-133 gives occupants a basis to expect that any room heater in their dwelling has been properly permitted, inspected, and equipped with required safety features such as venting, fire-resistant panels, and smoke-pipe guards. If a heater appears to lack these features or has not received its required annual inspection, tenants may raise the ordinance's requirements when reporting concerns to the New Britain building department or city fire department. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how this provision interacts with broader habitability standards and what documentation to request from a landlord.
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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