New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-84
Extermination of insects and rodents
Operative Text
(a) Responsibilities of occupants. Every occupant of a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests therein or on the premises. Every occupant of a dwelling unit, in a dwelling containing more than one unit, shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. (b) Responsibilities of owners. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 3 § 13-84 divides pest-control responsibility between occupants and owners based on the scope and source of an infestation. A single-family occupant, or a tenant who is the sole infested unit in a multi-unit building, bears responsibility for extermination. However, when an infestation affects two or more units, spreads to shared or common areas, or stems from the owner's failure to keep the structure rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof, the duty to exterminate shifts to the owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13-84, compliant property owners generally maintain their buildings in a rat-proof and reasonably insect-proof condition so that structural deficiencies do not create or worsen infestations. When two or more units are infested, or when pests are found in hallways, basements, or other shared spaces of a multi-unit dwelling, owners are expected to arrange and pay for extermination. Keeping records of routine pest-control inspections and prompt responses to tenant reports can help demonstrate that a building is being maintained in accordance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 13-84 of the New Britain Code of Ordinances gives tenants a basis to assert that extermination is the owner's responsibility when an infestation is present in multiple units, in common areas, or when it results from the building's structural condition. Tenants who believe their situation falls under the owner-responsibility provisions may consider documenting the infestation with photographs and written notices to the landlord, and can explore filing a complaint with the relevant local housing or code-enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can help explain what options are generally 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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