New Britain, CT Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

The Antiblight Program at Sec. 7-40 through 7-46 defines a 'blighting condition' to include, among dozens of listed conditions, 'uncut grass, weeds or undergrowth at least nine (9) inches in length' and separately defines a 'vacant parcel' as 'a parcel of land with no buildings or structures thereon,' so an empty lot overgrown with weeds falls squarely within the ordinance even without a building on it. When the City of New Britain identifies a blighted premises, Sec. 7-41 requires written notice posted at the property and mailed to the owner, giving a compliance window set at the discretion of the director of health or the director of licenses, permits and inspections.

Sec. 7-45 lets any resident, civic organization or city agency file a written complaint, which triggers an inspection by an anti-blight enforcement officer; orders to correct run 30 days from mailing or posting, and the owner may contest liability before a hearing officer appointed by the mayor by requesting an appeal in writing within ten days. A single property with fifteen or more documented occurrences of the same blighting condition in a year can be classified as 'blighted premises' even absent an immediate safety risk.

The blighted premises committee, chaired by the mayor's designee and including the fire marshal, police, health director and corporation counsel, maintains the city's list of blighted properties and reports to the mayor and common council every January 31.