West Hartford, CT Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Chapter 58, Article II of the Town Code amends the Connecticut State Building Code standards that govern building permits in West Hartford, since C.G.S. § 29-253 makes the State Building Code the applicable code for all towns, cities and boroughs. Under § 58-5.A.1, no permit for new construction, alteration, removal, demolition or other building operation may be issued until the fees prescribed in the section are paid to the Division of Building Inspection or other authorized municipal agency. If work begins without the required permit, the property owner still owes a fine equal to the fee that would otherwise have applied, capped at $150 under C.G.S. § 8-12a, payable when the permit application is later filed.

A certificate of occupancy costs $5 and must be paid when applying for the building permit; a copy of an issued certificate costs $1. Section 58-5.B amends IRC § R113.4 and IBC § 114.4 to make violating the State Building Code, including erecting, constructing, altering or repairing in violation of an approved plan, permit or Building Official directive, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both, under C.G.S. § 29-254a, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense.

Section 58-1 separately blocks permits for buildings on unaccepted streets lacking sewer, water and street infrastructure unless the Director of Community Services certifies completion or the owner posts surety.