Waterbury, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 154 § 154.088
EXTERMINATION (Waterbury Housing Code)
Operative Text
(A) 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 dwelling unit within the dwelling that is infested. (B) Not withstanding 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. (C) Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or common parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner. (1967 Code, § 9-51) Penalty, see § 10.99
Under Waterbury, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 154 § 154.088, responsibility for pest extermination is divided based on the scope and source of an infestation. In a single-unit dwelling, the occupant bears responsibility for extermination; in a multi-unit dwelling, an occupant is responsible only for infestations confined to their own unit. However, when an infestation stems from the owner's failure to maintain a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof structure, or when pests are found in two or more units or in shared common areas, the duty to exterminate shifts to the property owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 154.088, property owners and managers in Waterbury are generally expected to maintain buildings in a rat-proof and reasonably insect-proof condition to avoid bearing extermination responsibility. When an infestation is reported in two or more units or in common areas such as hallways, basements, or laundry rooms, compliant operators typically arrange and pay for professional extermination promptly. Keeping records of routine pest-prevention maintenance and responding quickly to tenant infestation reports are practices consistent with meeting the structural-maintenance standard this provision establishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 154.088 of the Waterbury Code of Ordinances gives tenants certain protections when pest infestations arise from conditions beyond their control. If an infestation spreads to two or more units, appears in shared common areas, or results from the owner's failure to keep the building structurally pest-proof, the law places extermination responsibility on the owner rather than the occupant. Tenants who believe an owner is not meeting this obligation may consider documenting the infestation with photographs and written notices, contacting local housing or code-enforcement authorities in Waterbury, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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