New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-36
Chief building inspector—Responsibilities generally
Operative Text
(a) The chief building inspector shall enforce the provisions of this article, and he is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections as authorized by section 13-37 ; or in response to a complaint that an alleged violation of the provisions of this article or of applicable rules or regulations pursuant thereto may exist; or when either the chief building inspector or the director of health has valid reason to believe that a violation of this article or any rule or regulation pursuant thereto has been or is being committed. (b) The responsibility of the chief building inspector for the enforcement of this article does not relieve or preclude the director of health from enforcement jurisdiction over environmental health concerns, i.e. discontinuance of services as supplied heat, water and/or heated water; the presence of leadbased paint; approval of poisons used for rodent control; approval of ventilation devices; rooming house permits and violation notification; sewer connections; overcrowding in dwelling units; litter and garbage control; approval of space below grade as habitable rooms; and, the presence of roaches, vermin and/or rodents which are, or could be, detrimental to the public health.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 2 § 13-36 establishes that the chief building inspector holds primary responsibility for enforcing the city's housing article, with authority to conduct inspections on a scheduled basis, in response to complaints, or whenever there is valid reason to believe a violation is occurring. Importantly, this enforcement role does not eliminate the director of health's concurrent authority over a defined set of environmental and public-health concerns — including heat, water, lead-based paint, rodent control, overcrowding, and related issues. In practice, two separate municipal officials may each have jurisdiction over different aspects of conditions in a rental property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13-36, property owners and managers in New Britain should be aware that housing code compliance may be reviewed by more than one city official — both the chief building inspector and the director of health carry enforcement authority, each covering distinct areas. Compliant operators generally maintain conditions that satisfy both building code standards and environmental health requirements, since a clean bill of health from one office does not necessarily resolve concerns raised by the other. Keeping records of maintenance, repairs, and service continuity — particularly for heat, hot water, and pest control — supports demonstrating compliance across both enforcement tracks.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 13-36 of the New Britain Code of Ordinances means that tenants dealing with housing conditions have two potential avenues for official response: the chief building inspector's office for general code violations, and the director of health for environmental health concerns such as lack of heat or hot water, lead-based paint, pest infestations, overcrowding, and similar issues. Tenants can file complaints with either or both offices depending on the nature of the problem, and a complaint to one does not preclude action by the other. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New Britain's municipal structure can help identify which office is best positioned to address a particular concern.
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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