Bethel, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 63 (2026) § 63-9

No person shall operate a rooming house or let to another for occupancy any rooming house except in compliance with the provisions of §§ 63-3 and 63-4 of this chapter. No vacant rooming unit shall be occupied or let unless it is clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy and shall otherwise be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Town of Bethel. A. No person shall operate a rooming house unless he holds a valid rooming house permit issued by the Director of Public Health in the name of the operator and for the said dwelling or dwelling unit as specified in such permit. The operator shall apply to the Director of Public Health for such permit, which shall be issued by the Director of Public Health only after determining that said rooming house is in compliance with the applicable provisions of this chapter and with any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. This permit shall be displayed in a conspicuous place within the rooming house at all times. No such permit shall be transferable. Acceptance of such permit by the operator of said rooming house shall serve as authorization by the operator for the enforcing officer to make any and all of such inspections or reinspections as the enforcing officer shall find to be necessary to determine the condition of the rooming units consistent with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. Such entry, examination and survey shall be between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or at such time as shall be reasonable. Every person holding such permit shall give notice in writing to the Director of Public Health within 24 hours after having sold, transferred, given away or otherwise disposed of ownership of, interest in or control of any rooming house. Such written notice shall include the name and address of the person succeeding to the ownership, interest in or control of such rooming house. Every rooming house permit shall expire at the end of the year following its date of issuance, unless it is earlier suspended or revoked as hereinafter provided. B. At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower that is properly connected to a water and sewer system or septic system approved by the health officer and in good working condition shall be supplied for each six persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family wherever they share the use of said facilities. It is further provided that: (1) All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. (2) No such facilities shall be located in a basement, except by written approval of the Director of Public Health. (3) In a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/2 the required number of water closets. (4) Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with heated and unheated water under pressure at all times. C. Cooking in a rooming unit and/or dormitory rooms shall be prohibited. D. Communal cooking and dining facilities in a rooming house shall be prohibited, except as approved by the Health Officer in writing. E. Rooming unit doors shall have operating locks to ensure privacy. F. The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once each week and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the clean and sanitary maintenance of all supplied bedding. G. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor space. Every room occupied for sleeping by more than one person shall contain at least 60 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof. Each such room shall also contain for each occupant not less than four square feet of closet space with an unobstructed height of at least five feet. If such closet space is lacking, an amount of space equal in square footage to the size of any deficiency in closet space shall be subtracted from the area of habitable room to be used by the Director of Public Health in determining the number of persons by whom occupancy is permissible. H. Every window of every rooming unit shall be supplied with shades, drawn drapes or other devices or material which when properly used will afford privacy to the occupant of the rooming unit. I. Every rooming unit shall have one or more safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level, as required by the laws of the State of Connecticut and the Town of Bethel. J. Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, motels, dormitories and clubs, except to the extent that any such provisions may be found in conflict with the laws of the State of Connecticut or the Town of Bethel. K. Access to or egress from each rooming unit shall be provided without passing through any other rooming unit or dwelling unit.