Stamford, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-51.1
Waiver of Liens and Penalties
Operative Text
Prior to the commencement of litigation, and subject to the review of the Director of Operations, the Anti-Blight Officer may waive and release said penalties and liens in the event the city acquires the property; or at the time of the owner's sale of the Blighted Property to a bona fide third party purchaser if, in his or her opinion, the buyer has the financial ability and the intention to immediately rehabilitate the Blighted Property; or hold all penalties and liens in abeyance until all rehabilitation is completed. Subsequent to the commencement of litigation, the Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford shall have the authority to compromise, waive and release said penalties and liens in his or her sole discretion.
Under Stamford Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-51.1, the city has established a process by which accumulated blight-related penalties and liens on a property may be waived, released, or held in abeyance under certain conditions. Before any lawsuit is filed, the Anti-Blight Officer — with the Director of Operations' review — can take these actions when the city acquires the property, when it is sold to a qualified third-party buyer who intends to rehabilitate it, or while rehabilitation is underway. Once litigation has begun, that authority shifts entirely to the Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford, who may compromise, waive, or release the penalties and liens at their sole discretion.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners dealing with blight designations under ch. 146 § 146-51.1 should be aware that penalties and liens are not necessarily permanent obligations. Compliant operators who are selling a blighted property typically document the buyer's financial capacity and rehabilitation intentions, as these are the factors the Anti-Blight Officer weighs when considering a waiver or abeyance before litigation begins. Once a lawsuit has been filed, the decision-making authority moves to the Corporation Counsel, making early engagement with the Anti-Blight Officer and the Director of Operations a common feature of how owners navigate this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants living in or near properties affected by blight proceedings, § 146-51.1 of the Stamford Code of Ordinances governs how the city may reduce or suspend financial penalties tied to a blighted property. When a property is sold under this provision, the Anti-Blight Officer must be satisfied that the incoming buyer genuinely intends and has the means to rehabilitate the property, which can be relevant to whether conditions improve. Tenants who have concerns about blight conditions or the status of a property's rehabilitation can contact the City of Stamford's Anti-Blight office or consult a local tenant-rights organization for information about how this process may affect their housing situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.