Bethel, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 63 (2026) § 63-7

No person shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the general requirements of this section relating to the safe and sanitary maintenance of parts of rental dwellings and rental dwellings units. A. Every foundation, floor, roof, ceiling, exterior and interior wall and accessory structure shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and damp-free, shall be kept in sound condition and good repair and shall be capable of affording privacy for the occupants. All exterior wood surfaces shall be protected from the elements and decay by paint or other protective covering or treatment. Toxic paint and materials will not be used on such exterior surfaces as are readily accessible to children. (1) Lead paint or potentially hazardous material on the interior surfaces of any dwelling unit, rooming unit, rooming house or on any fixtures or other objects used, installed or located in or upon any exposed surface in any such facility subject to letting or occupancy by children is prohibited. Such interior surfaces include but are not limited to windowsills, window frames, doors, door frames, walls, ceiling, stairrails and spindles and all other appurtenances of the interior portion of the dwelling premises. (2) In each instance where conditions disclose loose, flaking, chipping or falling paint, and there is reason to believe that the presence of lead paint or toxic material exists as a potential hazard, the enforcing officer shall take samples in a manner prescribed by the appropriate authority and shall submit samples for analysis to said appropriate authority. B. Every window, exterior door, basement hatchway and all similar devices shall be kept rodentproof and reasonably watertight and weathertight and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair at all times. (1) During that portion of the year when there is a need for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outside space shall be equipped with properly fitting screens having not less than a 16 mesh and shall be operated by a self-closing device. During said portion of the year every window or other device with openings to outdoor space, used or intended to be used for ventilation, shall also be supplied with such screens, except that no screens shall be required for any dwelling unit located on any floor above the fifth floor. See § 63-3G for the party responsible. (2) Every window located at or near ground level that is used or intended to be used for ventilation and every other opening located at or near ground level which might provide an entry for rodents shall be supplied with adequate-gauge screen or such other devices as will effectively prevent their entrance. C. Every dwelling or accessory structure and the premises upon which it is located shall be rodentproof and maintained so as to prevent the harboring of rodents. Such premises shall be graded and drained, kept free of standing water and maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe condition. (1) All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements and ground or first floors, and roofs which have an opening that is 1/2 inch or more in diameter, shall be ratproofed in an approved manner if they are within 48 inches of the existing exterior ground level immediately below such openings, or if such openings may be reached by rats from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires, cornices, stairs, roofs and other means such as trees or lines or by burrowing. (2) Skirting, lattice or other nonratproofed enclosures that can create a harboring place for rats under a porch or under any other portions of a building shall be ratproofed at all locations where a rat could find, burrow or gnaw an access opening. (3) In the event that occupancy usages would result in the stacking or piling of materials, the materials shall be so arranged as to prohibit the creation of a harbor for rats. This can be accomplished by orderly stacking and elevating such material so that there will be an eighteen-inch opening between the material and the ground level. No materials shall be stacked or piled against the exterior walls of the structure. (4) All exterior doors, including swinging, sliding and folding types, shall be constructed so that the space between the lower edge of the door and the threshold shall not exceed 3/8 inch. It is provided further that the space between sections of folding and sliding doors, when closed, shall not exceed 3/8 inch. (5) Interior floors of basements, cellars and other areas in contact with the soil shall be paved with concrete or other materials impervious to rats. (6) Materials used for rodent control shall be those materials that are acceptable to the appropriate authority. (7) All fences provided by the owner or an occupant on the premises shall be constructed of manufactured metal fencing material, wood, masonry or other inert material. Such fences shall be maintained in good condition. Wood materials shall be protected against decay by use of paint or other preservative. The permissible height and other characteristics of all fences shall conform to the appropriate statutes, ordinances and regulations of this state and the local authority. Wherever any egress from the dwelling opens into the fenced area, the fence shall include a means of egress from the premises to any public way adjacent thereto. (8) Accessory structures on the premises shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair and free from insects and rodents, or such structures shall be removed from the premises. The exterior of such structures shall be made weather-resistant through the use of decay-resistant materials or the use of paint or other preservatives. (9) In areas of heavy rat infestation, the enforcing officer shall require that every exterior door be equipped with an automatic closing device or with a screen door that is equipped with such a device and properly fitted. (10) All sewers, pipes, drains, conduits, roof ventilators, chimneys, pipe vents, downspouts, openings, etc., permitting accessibility to rats shall be protected against entry by grilles, hardware, cloth, caps, expanded metal covers or other ratproof material acceptable to the appropriate authority. (11) If the space between two buildings is too small to permit inspection of the exterior walls of such building, such space shall be sealed so as to prevent the entrance of rats. Provisions shall be made in the ratproofing in such cases so that drainage is not obstructed. D. Every foundation, roof, floor, exterior and interior wall, ceiling and inside and outside stair and every porch, gutter and downspout and every appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every inside and outside stair or step shall have uniform risers and treads, and stairways shall have handrails, structurally sound, of required height and balustrades spaced as in § 63-7D(1) . (1) Porches, stairways and/or balconies located more than three feet higher than the adjacent area shall have structurally sound protective handrails of the required height, and, if unenclosed, balusters spaced no less than six inches apart shall also be provided. Alternate systems providing at least the same degree of protection, if approved by the appropriate authority, shall be acceptable. E. Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition. F. Every water closet compartment shall be constructed and maintained so as to be impervious to water. Every bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be so constructed and maintained as to be easily kept in clean and sanitary condition and shall be reasonably impervious to water. G. Every plumbing fixture and pipe, every chimney, flue and smoke pipe and every other facility, piece of equipment, utility and heating apparatus installed on the premises for the use of any dwelling unit or which is otherwise required under this chapter shall be constructed and installed in conformance with the applicable local or state codes and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition. H. Neither the owner nor any occupant of any dwelling unit shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required under this chapter to be removed from, shut off from or discontinued for any premises containing an occupied dwelling or dwelling unit let or occupied hereunder, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the appropriate authority. I. All construction and materials, all ways and means of egress and all installation and use of equipment shall conform to applicable state and local laws dealing with fire protection.