Old Saybrook, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (2026) § 166-3

A. Meaning of certain words. (1) Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," rooming units," "premises," "structure" are used in this code, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof" and shall be restricted in application and meaning to those such premises which are used or offered for use as rental residential premises. (2) Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular; the masculine gender includes the feminine and the feminine the masculine. (3) Undefined words. Words not specifically defined in this code shall have the common definition set forth in a standard dictionary. B. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this code: ACCESSORY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE A detached building or structure in a secondary or subordinate capacity from the main or principal building or structure on the same premises. APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY Agent or agency that has jurisdiction. APPROVED Approved by the local or state authority having such administrative authority. ASHES The residue from the burning of combustible materials. ATTIC Any story situated wholly or partly within the roof, and designed, arranged or built so as to be used for business, storage or habitation. BASEMENT The lowest story of a building, below the main floor and wholly or partially lower than the surface of the ground. BUILDING A fixed construction with walls, foundation and roof, such as a house, factory, garage, etc. BULK CONTAINER Any metal garbage, rubbish and/or refuse container having a capacity of two cubic yards or greater and which is equipped with fittings for hydraulic and/or mechanical emptying, unloading and/or removal. CELLAR A room or group of rooms totally below the ground level and usually under a building. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM A single system supplying heat to one or more dwelling unit(s) or more than one rooming unit. CHIMNEY A vertical masonry shaft of reinforced concrete, or other approved noncombustible, heat-resisting material enclosing one or more flues, for the purpose of removing products of combustion from solid, liquid or gaseous, fuel. COMPLIANCE OFFICER The official designated herein or otherwise charged with the responsibilities of administering this code, or his or her authorized representative. DILAPIDATED No longer adequate for the purpose or use for which it was originally intended. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH The Health Officer or his or her authorized agent. DWELLING Any enclosed space wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. DWELLING UNIT A room or group of rooms located within a dwelling forming a single habitable unit with facilities used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating purposes. EGRESS An arrangement of exit facilities to assure a safe means of exit from buildings. EXTERMINATION The control and elimination of insects, rodents, or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the local or state authority having such administrative authority. FAIR MARKET VALUE A price at which both buyers and sellers are willing to do business. FAMILY One or more individuals living together and sharing common living, sleeping, cooking and eating facilities. (See also "household.") FLUSH WATER CLOSET A toilet bowl which is flushed with water which has been supplied under pressure and equipped with a water-sealed trap above the floor level. GARBAGE The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, serving and nonconsumption of food. GRADE The finished ground level adjacent to a required window. GUEST An individual who shares a dwelling unit in a nonpermanent status for not more than 30 days. HABITABLE ROOM A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, kitchenettes and utility rooms of less than 50 square feet of floor space, foyers, or communicating corridors, stairways, closets, storage spaces, and workshops, hobby and recreation areas. HEATED WATER Water heated to a temperature not less than the requirements in the State of Connecticut State Building Code. HEATING DEVICE All furnaces, unit heaters, domestic incinerators, cooking and heating stoves and ranges, and other similar devices. HOUSEHOLD One or more individuals living together in a single dwelling unit and sharing common living, sleeping, cooking and eating facilities. (See also "family.") INFESTATION The presence within or around a dwelling of any insects, rodents, or other pests. KITCHEN Any room used for the storage of foods, preparation of foods and containing any or all of the following equipment: sink and/or other device for dishwashing, stove or other device for cooking, refrigerator or other device for cool storage of food, cabinets, and/or shelves for storage of equipment and utensils, and counter or table for food preparation. KITCHENETTE A small kitchen or an alcove containing cooking facilities. LEAD-BASED PAINT Any paint containing more lead than the level established by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission as being the "safe" level of lead in residential paint and paint products. MULTIPLE DWELLING Any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units. OCCUPANT Any individual other than an owner or a member of such owner's household, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in or having possession of a rental dwelling, dwelling unit or a rooming unit. OPERATOR Any person who has charge, care, control, or management of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let. ORDINARY SUMMER CONDITIONS A temperature 10° F. below the highest recorded temperature in the locality for the prior ten-year period. ORDINARY WINTER CONDITIONS A temperature 15° F. above the lowest recorded temperature in the locality for the prior ten-year period. OWNER Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others: (1) Shall have legal title to any premises, dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or (2) Shall have charge, care or control of any premises, dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner or an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this code and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he or she were the owner, which premises, dwelling or dwelling unit is used or offered for use as rental residential premises. PERMISSIBLE OCCUPANCY The maximum number of individuals permitted to reside in dwelling unit or rooming unit. PERSON Includes any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, cooperative or governmental agency. PLUMBING Includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, and any other similar supplied fixtures, and the installation thereof, together with all connections to water, sewer, septic systems or gas lines. PREMISES A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure, and includes any such building, accessory structure or other structure thereon. PRIVACY The existence of conditions which will permit an individual or individuals to carry out an activity commenced without interruption or interference, either by sight or sound by unwanted individuals. PROPERLY CONNECTED Connected in accordance with all applicable codes and ordinances of the Town of Old Saybrook and the State of Connecticut as from time to time enforced; provided, however, that the application of this definition shall not require the alteration or replacement of any connection in good working order and not constituting a hazard to life or health. RAT HARBORAGE Any conditions or place where rats can live, nest or seek shelter. RATPROOFING A form of construction which will prevent the ingress or egress of rats to or from a given space or building, or from gaining access to food, water or harborage. It consists of the closing and keeping closed of every opening in foundation, basements, cellars, exterior and interior walls, ground or first floors, roofs, sidewalk gratings, sidewalk opening, and other places that may be reached and entered by rats by climbing, burrowing or other methods, by the use of materials impervious to rat gnawing and other methods approved by the Board of Selectmen. REFUSE All putrescible and nonputrescible solids (except body wastes) including garbage, rubbish, ashes and dead animals. REFUSE CONTAINER A watertight container that is constructed of metal, or other durable material impervious to rodents, that is capable of being serviced without creating unsanitary conditions, or such other containers as have been approved by the Board of Selectmen. Openings into the container such as covers and doors shall be tight-fitting. ROOMING HOUSE Any dwelling including hotels and motels, or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units in which persons either individually or as families are housed with or without meals being provided. ROOMING UNIT Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking purposes. RUBBISH Nonputrescible solid wastes (excluding ashes) consisting of either: (1) Combustible wastes such as paper, cardboard, plastic containers, yard clippings, and wood; or (2) Noncombustible wastes such as tin cans, glass and crockery. SAFETY The condition of being reasonably free from danger and hazards which may cause accidents or disease. SPACE HEATER A self-contained, heating appliance of either the convection type or the radiant type and intended primarily to heat only a limited space or area such as one room or two adjoining rooms. STAIRWAYS One or more flights of stairs and the necessary landings and platforms connecting them to form a continuous and uninterrupted passage from one floor to another. A flight of stairs for the purpose of this code must have at least two risers. SUMMER DWELLINGS Those dwellings listed with the Old Saybrook Tax Assessor as being seasonal (no heat). SUPPLIED Paid for, furnished by, provided by, or under the control of the owner, operator, or agent. TEMPORARY HOUSING Any occupied tent, trailer, mobile home or any other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable. TOXIC SUBSTANCE Any chemical product applied on the surface of or incorporated into any structural or decorative material which may constitute a potential hazard to human health at acute or chronic exposure levels. VARIANCE A difference between that which is required or specified and that which is permitted.