Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-104
Heating facilities and equipment
Operative Text
(a) Every dwelling or every dwelling unit shall have functioning water-heating facilities which are properly installed and maintained in safe and good working condition, which are properly connected with the hot-water lines required under the provisions of this code and which are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than one hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit (110° F.). Such supplied water-heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this section even when the dwelling or dwelling unit heating facilities required under the provisions of this code are not in operation. (b) Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed, which are maintained in a safe and good working condition and which are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closets in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (65° F.) at a distance two (2) feet above floor level and one (1) foot from an exterior wall. For the purposes of this code and the designations described in sections 12-137 (a) and 12-140 of this code, violations of this standard are hereby declared to be an immediate hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and the general public. (c) No unvented fuel-burning room heater shall be used in any residence other than an owner-occupied single-family residence, unless such heater is fueled by natural gas or propane and is equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VI § 12-104 establishes minimum standards for both water-heating and space-heating systems in dwellings. Water-heating equipment must be capable of delivering hot water at a minimum of 110°F to all required kitchen sinks, lavatories, bathtubs, and showers, regardless of whether the main space-heating system is running. Space-heating systems must be able to maintain at least 65°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets, measured two feet above the floor and one foot from an exterior wall — and failures to meet this standard are classified as an immediate hazard to health, safety, and welfare. The provision also restricts the use of unvented fuel-burning room heaters in non-owner-occupied or multi-family residences unless the heater runs on natural gas or propane and includes an oxygen depletion sensor.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwellings subject to Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VI § 12-104 generally keep water-heating equipment properly installed, connected to hot-water lines, and capable of consistently delivering water at or above 110°F at every required fixture. Compliant operators also maintain space-heating systems that can reliably reach 65°F throughout all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets, measured at the specified distances from the floor and exterior walls. Because heating deficiencies under this section are classified as an immediate hazard, operators typically prioritize prompt repair and avoid using unvented fuel-burning heaters in rental units unless the equipment meets the natural gas or propane and oxygen-depletion-sensor requirements spelled out in subsection (c).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VI § 12-104, tenants in rental dwellings have a right to functioning water-heating equipment that delivers water at no less than 110°F at required fixtures, as well as space-heating systems capable of maintaining at least 65°F in habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets. Because the ordinance explicitly classifies heating failures as an immediate hazard to health, safety, and welfare, tenants who experience such conditions may have grounds to report the deficiency to the appropriate local code enforcement or housing authority. Tenants may also wish to document conditions carefully and consult a tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of options available, which can include raising a code violation as a defense in certain legal proceedings.
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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