New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-83
Screening
Operative Text
(a) From April first to October fifteenth of each year, every door opening directly from any dwelling unit or multi-family dwelling to the outdoors, and every window or other outside opening used for ventilation purposes, shall be supplied by the owner or operator with approved screening, and every swinging screen door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition. (b) Every basement or cellar window used or intended to be used for ventilation, and every other opening to a basement which might provide an entry to rodents, shall be supplied with a screen or such other device as will effectively prevent their entrance. (c) In the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows once installed and in good working order in any one season, become the responsibility of the occupant. The occupant's responsibility shall be exclusive to his or her dwelling unit. (d) For approved screening see the state basic building code.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 3 § 13-83 establishes a seasonal screening requirement running from April 1 through October 15 each year. During that window, owners or operators must supply approved screens on all exterior doors, windows, and ventilation openings of dwelling units and multi-family buildings, and any swinging screen door must have a functioning self-closing device. Basement and cellar openings that could allow rodent entry must be screened or otherwise blocked year-round. Once screens, storm doors, and windows are properly installed and in good working order for a given season, responsibility for their upkeep shifts to the occupant—unless a written agreement says otherwise.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13-83, compliant property owners and operators generally ensure that approved screens are in place on all qualifying exterior openings before April 1 each year, and that every swinging screen door is fitted with a self-closing device in good working order. Basement and cellar openings that could serve as rodent entry points require screening or equivalent barriers regardless of season. Operators typically document the condition of screens at the start of each season, since the ordinance places ongoing maintenance responsibility on the occupant once screens are installed and functioning—making a clear record of initial installation status important for establishing that baseline.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 13-83 gives occupants a defined role in the screening arrangement: once an owner or operator has supplied and properly installed screens, storm doors, and windows in good working order for the season, the responsibility for maintaining or replacing those items within the dwelling unit generally falls to the occupant—unless a written lease agreement provides otherwise. Tenants who believe an owner has failed to supply required screening before the April 1 seasonal deadline may have grounds to raise that failure as a housing code violation. Tenants in this situation can consider filing a complaint with New Britain's local housing or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options under § 13-83.
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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