Bridgeport, Conn., Mun. Code §§ 15.12, 15.28 § 15.12.290
Rooming houses and hotels—Suitability of licensee (Bridgeport Housing Code)
Operative Text
The chief of police may require such information as will disclose whether the applicant has been convicted of keeping a house of ill-fame or assignation, or a house in which lewd, dissolute or drunken persons resort or which has been used for the purpose of gaming. If any applicant shall have been convicted of any of the aforesaid offenses or has such a criminal record that the chief of police reasonably believes that he is not a suitable person to be licensed under this chapter, he may, in his discretion, so advise the housing code enforcement officer not to issue a license to the applicant.
Under Bridgeport Municipal Code § 15.12.290, the chief of police is authorized to review an applicant's criminal background when a rooming house or hotel license is sought. If the applicant has prior convictions for operating a disorderly establishment—such as a house of ill-fame, a gaming house, or a place frequented by lewd or intoxicated persons—or has a criminal record that raises suitability concerns, the chief of police may advise the housing code enforcement officer to deny the license. The provision gives the chief of police discretionary authority to make this recommendation, but the final licensing decision rests with the housing code enforcement officer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators seeking a rooming house or hotel license in Bridgeport should be aware that § 15.12.290 subjects applicants to a police background review as part of the licensing process. A compliant operator generally maintains a clean criminal record and is prepared to disclose relevant history, understanding that convictions related to disorderly establishments or gaming can trigger a recommendation against licensure. Property managers overseeing rooming houses or hotels typically ensure that all principals involved in the application are aware of this suitability review before submitting their paperwork.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bridgeport Municipal Code § 15.12.290 establishes a suitability screening process for the owners and operators of rooming houses and hotels, which is intended to protect residents from being housed under operators with certain criminal histories. Tenants who have concerns about whether their rooming house or hotel operator was properly licensed may contact Bridgeport's housing code enforcement office to inquire about the status of the facility's license. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can also help residents understand what recourse may be available if a facility is operating without a valid license or if licensing requirements appear to have been bypassed.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.