West Haven, CT Code Violation Reporting: Response Times (2026)

Article II of Chapter 128 (added 6-26-2006) covers zoning violations, and § 128-11 sets the compliance periods that begin when the Zoning Enforcement Officer or agent issues a citation. Violations involving illegal use of a property by a nonstructural object such as a sign, vehicle or junk, and violations involving an activity that is not permitted, must be corrected within 48 hours of issuance of the citation. For illegal placement of a structure, all work on the structure must immediately cease, and every remaining violation has to be brought into compliance within 48 hours or within another period the Zoning Enforcement Officer designates in writing.

If the violation is not corrected in the time allowed, it becomes a new violation of the Zoning Regulations, and every twenty-four-hour period after that in which it stays uncorrected is another new violation. The officer does not reinspect daily. The cited person is responsible for reporting compliance, and the officer or agent then reinspects to confirm it within 24 hours of the report.

Section 128-10 (amended 9-23-2024) sets the fine at $150 for each day the violation continues. A citation states the violation, the fine, the time period for payment and an address for remittance, and the notice includes the availability of a hearing. Fines are payable to the Treasurer, City of West Haven, and must be received by the Zoning Enforcement Officer or agent within 10 days from the receipt of the citation (§ 128-12). Unpaid fines are a lien on the real estate from the date issued and are enforced like a property tax lien. A Zoning Enforcement Officer who issues a citation frivolously or without probable cause is liable for treble damages (§ 128-13).

Non-zoning citations follow Article I. The cited person has 10 days to demand a hearing by written notice, the hearing is held not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days from the mailing of the notice, and an appeal to the Superior Court at Milford must be filed within 30 days of the mailing of notice of assessment.