Bethel, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 63 (2026) § 63-10

A. The enforcing officer is hereby authorized and directed to make periodic inspections, by and with the authorization of the owner, occupant or person in charge, to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units and premises within the Town of Bethel for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of making such inspections, the enforcing officer, with the authorization of the owner, occupant or person in charge, is hereby empowered to enter, examine and survey all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or at such other time mutually satisfactory to and agreed upon by the enforcing officer and the owner, the occupant or the person in charge of any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit. Such inspection, examination or survey shall not have for its purpose the harassment of such owner or occupant. Such inspection, examination or survey shall be made in a manner that will cause the least amount of inconvenience to said owner or occupant, consistent with an efficient performance of the duties of the enforcing officer. To further ensure that the policy of this chapter is to achieve compliance through cooperation of owners and occupants and to ensure that such policy will be successfully maintained, whenever practicable the enforcing officer will provide reasonable advance notice to the owner, the person in charge and/or the occupants of any planned blanket inspection and any inspections of a routine nature. B. The owner or occupant of each dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises or the person in charge thereof, upon presentation by the enforcing officer of proper identification, shall give the enforcing officer entry to the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises and free access to every part thereof, provided that no inspection shall be conducted except during the hours designated above. Whenever an owner, occupant or person in charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit or premises shall deny the enforcing officer right of entry for the purpose of inspection, examination or survey, the enforcing officer shall not so enter until he presents a duly granted authorization to enter for the purpose of inspection, examination or survey of such premises. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the entry of the enforcing officer at any time when, in his judgment, an emergency tending to create an immediate danger to the public health, welfare or safety exists; or when such entry by the enforcing officer is requested by the owner, occupant or person in charge of the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises; or when the enforcing officer presents a duly granted authorization to enter for the purpose of inspection, examination or survey of such premises for the purposes hereof. Any owner, occupant or person in charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises refusing to permit or impeding entry of and free access to any part of any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises for the purposes of inspection, examination or survey under the provisions of this subsection and Subsection A above shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100 as provided in § 63-15 of this chapter. C. The appropriate authority shall keep confidential all evidence which may be discovered or obtained in the course of an inspection made pursuant to this section. Such evidence shall be considered privileged. Evidence so obtained shall not be disclosed except as may be necessary in the judgment of the appropriate authority for the proper and effective administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto. D. Every owner or operator of a rooming house shall keep, or cause to be kept, records of all requests for repair and complaints by tenants, which requests are related to the provisions of this chapter and to any applicable rules and regulations and records of all corrections made in response to such requests and complaints. Such records shall be made available by the owner or operator to the appropriate authority for inspection and copying upon request. Such records shall be admissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding pursuant to the provisions of this chapter as prima facie evidence of the violation or the correction of violations of this chapter or of applicable rules and regulations pursuant thereto.