West Haven, CT Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Chapter 142 of the West Haven Code, Littering, gives the City Council's answer to trash on empty ground. Section 142-20 requires the owner or person in control of any private property to keep the premises free of litter at all times, with an exception for litter stored in authorized private receptacles for collection. Section 142-21 goes further: no person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant private property within the city, whether owned by that person or not. The cleanup mechanism is § 142-22.

The Health Officer notifies the owner of any open or vacant private property, or the owner's agent, to dispose of litter dangerous to public health, safety or welfare, and the notice goes by registered mail to the owner's last known address. The owner then has 10 days after receipt, or 15 days after the date of the notice if it comes back undelivered to the City Post Office Department. After that the Health Officer is authorized to pay for the disposal or order the city to do it.

The actual cost, plus accrued interest at 6% per annum from completion of the work, is charged to the owner on the next regular tax bill. If the owner has not paid within 30 days after the disposal, the Health Officer records a sworn statement of the cost, the date of the work and the location in the City Clerk's office, which creates a lien and privilege on the property. Unpaid amounts carry a delinquent penalty of 1/2% per month once the tax bill becomes delinquent.

Overgrown vegetation on a vacant lot is handled separately: § 129-3(B) treats residentially zoned premises without a structure as a blight and public nuisance once grass or weeds reach eight inches or greater for 10 days or longer, and the definition of blighted premises in § 129-2 covers a parcel of land holding solid waste, rubbish, or abandoned and inoperable vehicles.