New Britain, CT Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances sets the basic complaint process for health and nuisance issues in New Britain. Sec. 12-1 keeps the threshold simple but firm: any complaint made to the director of health must be in writing and bear the complainant's signature, which screens out anonymous tips for formal health complaints while keeping the bar low for residents. Sec. 12-2 defines the underlying violation broadly: no person may create a nuisance in the city or allow one to remain on property or in a building they own, occupy or control, which covers everything from unsanitary conditions to uncovered service pits regulated later in the same chapter.

Once a written, signed complaint comes in, Sec. 12-3 gives the board of health and director of health authority to summarily abate the nuisance themselves or order the owner, occupant or person in charge to abate it, and makes it a violation to neglect or refuse an abatement order. Sec. 12-3(c) closes the loop on enforcement: it is the duty of the director of health or board of health employees to report violations of health laws, ordinances, and rules and regulations to the prosecuting attorney, who then prosecutes the case.

The board of health itself, seven electors appointed by the mayor under Sec. 12-21, oversees the department of health that carries out this complaint and abatement process.