Bethel, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 63 (2026) § 63-16

The designation of dwellings or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and the procedure for the condemnation and placarding of such unit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out in compliance with the following requirements: A. Any dwelling or dwelling unit which the enforcing officer shall find to have one or more of the following defects shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the enforcing officer. (1) Any dwelling or dwelling unit that is so damaged, decayed or dilapidated, insanitary, unsafe or vermin-infested that it creates a serious hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. (2) Any dwelling or dwelling unit that lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. (3) Any dwelling or dwelling unit that, because of its general condition or location, is insanitary or otherwise dangerous to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. B. Any dwelling or dwelling unit that is condemned as unfit for human habitation and so designated and placarded by the enforcing officer shall be vacated forthwith by all occupants thereof. C. No dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit that has been condemned and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall be used again for human habitation until written approval is secured from the enforcing officer and until such placard is removed by express permission of the enforcing officer. The enforcing officer shall permit removal of such placard by the owner, occupant or person in charge of the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit upon the elimination of such defect as was found by the enforcing officer as described in Subsection A hereinabove. D. No person shall willfully deface or remove the placard from any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such, except when such action has been authorized by the enforcing officer, as provided for in Subsection C above. Whoever violates this provision shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $50. E. Any person aggrieved by any order involving the condemnation and placarding of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be granted a hearing subject to the conditions specified in § 63-12 above, upon the written request of such aggrieved person as provided therein. F. In the event that no corrective action is taken by the owner, occupant or person in charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit thus condemned as unfit for human occupancy within six months following the date of the condemnation hereinabove described, provided that no appeal is then pending, then the enforcing officer shall order the condemned structure to be demolished as soon as practicable. G. Nothing herein contained shall be interpreted as precluding any private right of action of any person against an owner, occupant or person in charge of the condemned and placarded structure. H. All subsequent transferees of the condemned dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be deemed to have notice of the continuing existence of the violations alleged; and said transferees shall be liable to all penalties and procedures provided by this chapter and by applicable rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto to the same degree as was their transferor.