New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances tit. V § 309
Duties of occupant, owner to exterminate pests (New Haven Housing Code)
Operative Text
In addition to duties specified elsewhere in this title, every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests therein or on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only dwelling unit within the dwelling that is infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonably insectproof 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 common parts of any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
New Haven Code of Ordinances tit. V § 309 establishes a shared but conditional framework for pest extermination responsibility in residential dwellings. In a single-unit dwelling, the occupant bears full responsibility for extermination. In multi-unit buildings, responsibility shifts to the owner when infestation affects two or more units, appears in common areas, or results from the owner's failure to keep the structure ratproof or reasonably insectproof—otherwise, a tenant in a multi-unit building is responsible only when their unit is the sole infested one.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under New Haven Code tit. V § 309, property owners of multi-unit buildings are generally responsible for extermination when pests are found in shared or common areas, when two or more units are infested, or when the infestation stems from a structural failure to maintain ratproof or insectproof conditions. Compliant operators typically conduct regular inspections of common areas and building exteriors, address structural gaps or entry points promptly, and arrange professional extermination services when multi-unit or common-area infestations are identified. Keeping documentation of inspections and remediation efforts is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 309 of New Haven Code tit. V gives tenants in multi-unit buildings a basis to assert that extermination is the owner's responsibility when infestation is present in common areas, in two or more units, or when it results from the building's structural condition. Tenants who believe an owner has failed to meet this obligation may consider documenting the infestation with photographs and written communications, reporting conditions to the New Haven housing code enforcement authority, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance. Understanding whether the infestation is isolated to one unit or is more widespread is often a key factor in determining how § 309 applies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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