Hartford, CT Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Hartford Municipal Code § 18-51
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Licenses and Inspections
- Civil penalty
- Up to $100 per day, per violation
- Statutory cap
- $7,500 total per violation (G.S. § 47a-59)
- Cure period
- 21 to 60 days to correct
Summary
Hartford housing code requires owners to keep every surface, system, and common area of rental housing clean, sanitary, and in good repair, whether occupied or not, under the city's licenses and inspections enforcement program.
Every owner of housing or a housing unit must: A.Maintain at all times in a clean and sanitary condition every surface, including walls, floors, installed carpets, stairwells, passages, windows, doors, water closets, cesspools, drains, halls, cellars, roofs, porches, decks, stoops, ceilings, and elevators, for the housing or housing unit, whether occupied or not, including the entire exterior structure of the housing or housing unit and any common areas.
Full Breakdown
Section 18-51 of the housing code lists an owner's baseline habitability duties: sanitary surfaces and structure, weathertight walls, roofs and windows, working locks, adequate light and air, functioning plumbing, heat and kitchen fixtures, pest control, mold remediation, smoke detectors, and screens on multi-unit buildings. Owners must keep supplied amenities like bathrooms, electrical outlets, heating, and kitchens in sound condition and good repair. The director of licenses and inspections enforces the chapter through notices of violation and citations, with owners bearing primary responsibility even where occupants share duties.
Violations & Fines
Violations bring a notice of violation, then a citation carrying civil penalties up to $100 per day, capped at $7,500 per violation under state law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Hartford landlord maintain under the housing code?
What happens if a Hartford landlord ignores a violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hartford
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