New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-145
Lead paint
Operative Text
(a) Lead paint or potentially hazardous material on the interior surfaces of any dwelling unit, rooming unit, rooming house or on any fixtures or other objects used, installed in or located in or upon any exposed surface in any facility subject to letting or occupancy by children, is prohibited. Such interior surfaces include, but are not limited to, window sills, window frames, doors, door frames, walls, ceilings, stair-rails and spindles, and other appurtenances of the interior portion of the dwelling premises. Paint or other covering: (1) Must conform to the standards of the American Standards Institute Z66 1-1964 (Z66 1-1964: a liquid coating material deemed suitable, from a health standpoint, for use on articles such as furniture, toys, etc., or for interior use in dwelling units where the dry film might be ingested by children). (2) Shall not contain lead compounds of which the lead content (calculated as Pb) is in excess of .06 per cent of the total weight of the contained solids (including pigments, film solids and driers). (3) Shall not contain compounds of antimony, arsenic, cadium, mercury, or selenium of which the metal content individually or in total (calculated as Sb, As, Cd, Hg, Se, respectively) is in excess of .06 per cent by weight of the contained solids (including pigments, film solids and driers). (4) Shall not contain barium compounds of which the water soluble barium (calculated as Ba) is in excess of one per cent of the total barium in such coatings. (b) All painted portions of all buildings used or intended to be used in whole or in part for human habitation shall be kept free of cracked, chipped, blistered, flaking, loose or peeling paint. Any such surface shall be completely cleaned of paint and repainted with a paint or other covering conforming to paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Where the director of health finds that the presence of cracked, chipped, blistered, flaking, loose or peeling paint constitutes a health hazard, or where upon inspection he discovers surfaces accessible to children to be coated with paint which does not conform to the standards of the American Standards Institute Z66 1-1964, he shall issue an order to the owner of the property upon which such hazard exists to eliminate such hazard under such safety conditions as he may approve. Such paint shall be completely removed from any surface which can be chewed or eaten by children or is otherwise accessible to children. In lieu of removal of such paint, such surface shall be covered with a durable material or substance approved by the director of health. Repainting of any surface without prior removal of hazardous paint thereon or prior preparation of any such surface in accord with such conditions as the director of health may approve shall not be deemed to be satisfactory compliance with this section. State Law reference-- Restrictions on sale and use of paint, G.S. §§ 19-65a--19-65f.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 7 § 13-145 prohibits the use of lead paint or other potentially hazardous coatings on interior surfaces of dwelling units and rooming houses where children may be present. Paint used in these spaces must meet specific chemical limits — including a lead content cap of 0.06% by weight of solids — and must not contain unsafe levels of other heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, or cadmium. All painted surfaces in residential buildings must be kept free of cracking, chipping, flaking, or peeling, and the local director of health has authority to order property owners to eliminate paint hazards, including full removal of hazardous paint from surfaces accessible to children.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 13-145 generally ensure that any paint or coating applied to interior surfaces in rental dwellings conforms to the American Standards Institute Z66 1-1964 standards and stays within the heavy-metal concentration limits specified in the ordinance. Compliant operators routinely inspect painted surfaces for cracking, chipping, blistering, flaking, or peeling conditions and address deteriorated paint promptly — not merely by painting over it, but by properly preparing or removing hazardous material first. When the director of health issues an order under this section, operators typically document their remediation steps and obtain approval for any substitute covering materials used in lieu of full paint removal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 13-145, tenants living in New Britain rental housing — particularly households with children — have a right to premises free of lead paint hazards and deteriorating paint on interior surfaces. If a tenant observes cracked, chipping, flaking, or peeling paint, or has reason to believe surfaces accessible to children contain non-compliant coatings, they may report the condition to the city's director of health, who has authority to inspect and issue remediation orders to the property owner. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help tenants understand how this provision interacts with other housing code protections and what options may be available when a landlord fails to comply with a health department order.
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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