Bloomfield, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-16
Doors and optical viewing devices
Operative Text
In every multiple dwelling containing five (5) or more dwelling units, every entrance or exit to a dwelling unit which opens onto a common corridor or stairway shall be equipped, where the same can be done without violating the National Fire Standards under the rules of the National Fire Protection Association, with a door having an optical viewing device which affords a view of said corridor from the entrance or exit of said unit of not less than 150°. Electronic devices affording at least equal viewing may be substituted.
Under Bloomfield Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. III § 12-16, buildings with five or more dwelling units are required to have doors equipped with wide-angle optical viewers — providing at least a 150-degree field of view — on every unit entrance or exit that opens onto a shared corridor or stairway. This requirement applies unless installation would conflict with National Fire Protection Association standards. Electronic viewing devices that offer at least equivalent visibility may be used in place of traditional peepholes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating multiple dwellings with five or more units in Bloomfield should ensure that each unit door opening onto a common corridor or stairway is fitted with an optical viewer meeting the 150-degree minimum specified in ch. 12, art. III § 12-16. Compliant operators typically document that any substituted electronic device provides viewing capability at least equal to the optical standard. Where fire code requirements under the National Fire Protection Association would be violated by installation, operators generally keep records of that conflict to demonstrate why the device was not installed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-16 of Bloomfield's Code of Ordinances gives residents of buildings with five or more units a right to a door equipped with a qualifying optical or electronic viewing device on any entrance opening to a shared hallway or stairwell. If a unit door lacks this feature and fire code is not an obstacle, tenants may raise the absence as a housing code violation with the appropriate local code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Bloomfield's municipal code can help residents understand what options are generally available when a landlord has not complied with this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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