Source: https://wethersfieldct.gov/content/279/311/391.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 04:03:53+00:00

Document:
This chapter shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Code of the Town of Wethersfield" ("this code") and the standards established by this code shall be referred to as and constitute the minimum property standards of the Town of Wethersfield ("Town").
This code is intended to protect, preserve and promote public health, safety and welfare; to prevent and control the incidence of communicable diseases; and to reduce environmental hazards to health, safety and welfare, insofar as they are affected by the maintenance of residential and nonresidential structures, equipment and premises as provided by this code. This code is also further intended to provide minimum standards governing the condition, occupancy and maintenance of occupied and unoccupied premises and establish reasonable safeguards for the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and users of said premises, the community and the general public. This code is further intended to maintain and preserve the beauty of the neighborhoods and to allow for control of blighted premises.
This code shall establish minimum standards and responsibilities for the maintenance of all premises and delegates administrative responsibility and enforcement powers and creates enforcement procedures.
This code is adopted in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 7-148, 7-148aa and 7-152c.
§ 122-3. Scope of provisions.
Dwellings or dwelling units, including one-family and two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings.
Lots, plots or parcels of land whether vacant or occupied.
Buildings of non-dwelling use, including commercial properties.
Accessory structures accessory to any building.
All apartments, boardinghouses, group homes, lodging houses, rooming houses, tenement houses and unrelated family units.
This code shall not apply to barns as identified in the book "Wonderful Barns of Wethersfield," copyright 1994, by Eleanor Buck Wolf, or to any other barn built before 1900, except when the Town Manager or their designee determines that existing conditions pose a threat to the health, safety and/or welfare of the public.
A structure, the use of which is customarily incidental and subordinate to that of principal building, structure or use on the same lot.
Any other exterior condition reflecting a level of maintenance which is not in keeping with community standards or which constitutes a blighting factor for adjacent property owners or occupiers or which is an element leading to the progressive deterioration of the neighborhood.
It is a factor creating a substantial and unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of other premises within the surrounding area as documented by neighborhood complaints, police reports, the cancellation of insurance on proximate properties; or similar circumstances.
Blighted premises shall not include any such building, structure or parcel of land located on any active farm.
A judgment by a reasonable member of the community.
Any person, institution, foundation, entity or authority which owns, leases, rents, possesses, or is responsible for property within the Town.
Any premises or parcel of land within 1,000 feet of a blighted premises.
§ 122-5. Signs, awnings and marquees.
Signs. All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view permitted by reason of other ordinances or laws shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have excessively weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has excessively peeled or cracked or whose supporting members have deteriorated shall be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair by the owner of the sign.
Awnings and marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural member which extends over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. In the event that such awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed forthwith. In the event that said awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or of similar materials, said cloth or plastic where exposed to public view shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of excessive weathering, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
§ 122-6. Removal of weeds and similar vegetation.
Every owner/occupier of properties upon which a building exists, or who is in possession of a vacant lot in an approved subdivision which fronts on a paved public road and to which a public water and/or public sewer lateral has been provided, shall cut, to a height of not more than eight inches, all grass, weeds and similar vegetation not planted as a crop to be harvested or for ornamental purposes.
Every owner/occupier of property shall keep his property free from vegetation of any type which, in the opinion of the Town Manager or his/her designee, is injurious to public health.
Any violation of § 122-6A or 122-6B shall constitute a nuisance which may be abated by the Town at the expense of the owner, lessor, lessee or any other person in possession or any one or more of them to whom the Town Manager or his/her designee has given not less than 10 days written notice of intention to abate such nuisance. Such expense may be collected by the Town in a civil action against any one or more of the above-named persons responsible therefor.
Accumulation restricted. It shall be unlawful for an owner/occupier to allow solid waste to accumulate on premises in the Town in such a manner as to create an offensive, unsightly or unsanitary condition.
Storage requirements. In the event that property usage would result in the stacking or piling of materials, including equipment and appliances, even if wanted and useful, they must be so arranged as to prohibit the creation of a blighting factor to their neighbors. Furthermore, all useful, wanted material, including equipment and appliances, stored out-of-doors shall be stored in an orderly fashion in the rear yard.
Throwing or depositing in Town. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or deposit solid waste, material designated recyclable or recyclables in any part of the Town in such a manner as to create an offensive, unsightly or unsanitary condition. Property owners shall maintain their property litter free.
Throwing or depositing on streets and public grounds. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or deposit solid waste, material designated recyclable or recyclables upon streets or sidewalks, in any catch basin, drain or watercourse or in parks or any public grounds in the Town, except that solid waste, material designated recyclable and recyclables may be deposited in proper containers.
Any individual, civic organization, municipal agency, or Town employee affected by the action or inaction of an owner/occupier of property subject to the provisions of this chapter may file a complaint of violation of this chapter with the Town Manager. The Town Manager or his/her designee, upon his or her determination whether there is a violation of this chapter, shall forward a notice letter to the owner/occupier at the time such determination has been made.
Such a notice letter from the Town Manager or his/her designee shall be issued prior to issuing a citation.
The amount of the fines, penalties, costs or fees that may be imposed for noncompliance.
The owner/occupier may not contest a warning.
By posting and keeping posted for 24 hours a copy of the citation or notice letter in placard form in a conspicuous place on the premises.
If the corrective actions specified in the notice letter are not taken the Town Manager or his/her designee may issue a written citation to the owner/occupier.
The amount of the fines which may not exceed $100. Each day such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense and a separate citation may be issued.
Delivery of the citation shall be by the manner provided in § 122-8.
In lieu of citation and in accordance with § 7-148(c)(7)(E) of the Connecticut General Statutes, if the owner of any property, the condition of which constitutes an immediate threat to life, health, or safety or is otherwise unfit for human habitation, fails to comply with any order to repair or remove any building or portion thereof, or otherwise remediate the property, issued pursuant to the General Statutes or to the Code of Ordinances of the Town or when there exists actual and immediate danger upon the property, so as to endanger life or property, the official charged with enforcement of such provisions may proceed forthwith to cause to be done all work required to be done in compliance with such an order, and if necessary, to demolish or secure any structure or structures covered by any such order, and the Town shall have a lien on such property for the cost of such work or demolition, except that when no imminent danger exists, the owner of the property shall be given written notice of the Town's intention to undertake said work at least ten (10) days prior to the commencement thereof, and the Town may recover the cost of the work or demolition from the owner of such property by appropriate proceeding on complaint of said official.
In the event that any part or portion of this code is declared invalid for any reason, all the other provisions of this code shall remain in full force and effect.
Where terms are specifically defined or the meaning of such terms are clearly indicated by their context, that meaning is to be used in the interpretation of this code.
Where terms are not specifically defined and such terms are defined in the Charter and Municipal Code of the Town of Wethersfield, such terms shall have the same meaning for the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter.
Where terms are not specifically defined in this chapter, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meaning or such meaning as the context may imply.
The provisions of this code shall not be construed to prevent the enforcement of other codes, ordinances or regulations of the Town of Wethersfield.
In any case where a provision of this code is found to be in conflict with a provision of any zoning, building, fire, safety or health ordinance, regulation or other provision of the Charter and Municipal Code of the Town of Wethersfield or the State of Connecticut, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people of the Town of Wethersfield shall prevail.

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