Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-135
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
(a) Each violation of any provision of this code shall be considered a separate offense hereunder. (b) Each day any violation of any provision of this code shall continue shall constitute a separate offense hereunder. (c) Each separate offense of this Code shall be punishable by a fine of not less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) nor more than ninety dollars ($90.00). The director of health shall establish by regulation a fine schedule for each standard described in this Code. In addition to the fines set forth in this subsection, an additional administrative fee of two dollars ($2.00) per ten dollars ($10.00) of the amount of the fine(s) payable hereunder, or any fraction thereof, shall be payable to the city by each person to whom a citation is issued. Any citation not paid or under appeal within fifteen (15) days of the assessment shall render the owner, occupant, operator or agent of the premises a penalty equal to twice the amount of the initial penalty provided. Any citation not paid or under appeal within thirty (30) days of the assessment shall render the owner, occupant, operator or agent of the premises a penalty equal to three (3) times the amount of the initial penalty provided. (d) The total cumulative fine in any case shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600.00) per day nor shall the total penalty exceed nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00). (e) Any owner, occupant, operator or agent of any premises who has received proper notice of violation of this code and failed to correct such violation by the date specified in such notice shall be punishable by a cumulative fine for each separate offense and shall be liable for payment to the city within thirty (30) calendar days of the request for payment thereof. (f) No fine shall accrue while a reconsideration, hearing or appeal is pending in the matter unless the order is sustained, in which case fines accrue from the date of their assessment. A reconsideration, hearing or appeal shall not prevent further accumulation of the penalty if the order is sustained. No fines shall accrue during an extension of time granted by the housing code appeals board pursuant to section 12-139 . Fines accrued prior to the filing of an appeal of the notice or order pursuant to section 12-139 remain in effect. (g) The imposition of any fine shall not be construed to prevent the enforcement of other laws upon the premises nor to prevent the initiation of other enforcement measures or penalties. (h) Failure to pay any fine arising from the enforcement of this code shall constitute a debt in favor of the city. The director of health may bring civil or criminal action against the debtor in court for the payment of such fine. (i) Upon failure to correct any violation of this code by the specified date, the director of health may, in addition to other penalties and actions, bring civil or legal action against the violator, may institute a civil action for injunctive relief to require abatement, may initiate enforced abatement or demolition procedures or declare the premises as unfit for human habitation. (j) Any person assessed a fine may appeal the fine to the citation hearing officer. Appeals of fines shall be filed with the town clerk.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. VIII § 12-135 establishes a penalty structure for housing code violations in Bristol, where each violation and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Fines range from $15 to $90 per offense, with an additional administrative fee, and can escalate significantly if citations go unpaid — doubling after 15 days and tripling after 30 days. The total cumulative fine is capped at $600 per day and $9,000 overall, and unpaid fines become a debt owed to the city, enforceable through civil or criminal action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12-135, property owners, operators, and agents are expected to correct any cited violation by the date specified in the notice to avoid accumulating daily fines that compound quickly. Compliant operators typically track citation deadlines carefully, pay or formally appeal fines within 15 days to prevent penalty escalation, and maintain records of corrective actions taken. When a citation is received, operators generally have the option to appeal to the citation hearing officer by filing with the town clerk, which pauses fine accrual unless the order is ultimately sustained.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-135 of the Bristol Code of Ordinances provides that landlords, operators, and agents who fail to correct housing code violations face escalating fines and potential civil or legal action, including possible declaration of premises as unfit for human habitation. Tenants who believe their housing conditions violate the code may report concerns to the director of health, whose office has authority to issue citations and pursue enforcement. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand how this provision's enforcement mechanisms — including injunctive relief and abatement procedures — may apply to conditions in their housing.
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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