Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-139

(a) There is hereby created a housing code appeals board which shall consist of seven (7) regular members and one (1) alternate member who shall be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council. Each member of said housing code appeals board shall be an elector of the city. Initial appointments will be made so that three (3) members will serve until December 31, 2006, two (2) will serve until December 31, 2007, and two (2) will serve until December 31, 2008. The initial term of such alternate member shall commence on the first day of June, 2010, for a term of three (3) years. Upon the expiration of the initial terms, subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three (3) years, commencing the first day of January. The board shall designate a chair and vice chair from among its members. The board shall meet as necessary and at such times as the board may determine. The alternate member shall sit when any of the regular members are absent. Such alternate member shall, when seated as herein provided, have all the powers and duties relating to the regular members.
(b) Any person aggrieved by a notice or order of the director of health issued in connection with any alleged violation of this chapter or of any applicable rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto or by an order requiring repair or demolition may appeal such notice or order to the housing code appeals board, provided that such appeal is filed in the office of the town and city clerk within fourteen (14) calendar days after the date of the receipt of the original notice or order.
(c) The housing code appeals board shall serve for the purpose of hearing appeals to this code. The code appeals board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and investigations and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the applicant and the director of health; and all decisions and findings shall be made part of the public record. The applicant shall be notified by certified mail.
(d) The housing code appeals board, upon receipt of an appeal, shall set a time and place for a hearing thereon and shall advise the applicant in writing of such time and place at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the date of said hearing. The hearing hereunder shall be held within fourteen (14) calendar days of the receipt by said housing code appeals board of said appeal.
(e) At such hearing, the applicant shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show cause why such notice or order should be modified, extended, withdrawn or a variance granted.
(f) The housing code appeals board, by a majority vote of the members present, may sustain, modify or withdraw the notice or order. The housing code appeals board may grant a variance by a majority vote of the members present and voting. The housing code appeals board may not alter in any manner in the amount of any fine or the imposition of any other enforcement action or penalty for violations, unless such notice or order is withdrawn.
(g) The housing code appeals board may grant an extension of the time for compliance with any order or notice for not more than six (6) months subject to conditions it deems appropriate, provided that the code appeals board makes specific findings of fact based on evidence relating to the following:
(1) There are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of the notice or order as it applies to the specific case that outweigh the benefits to the occupants and general public.
(2) Such an extension is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter in securing the public health, safety and general welfare.
(3) The extension will not serve the purpose of transferring responsibility for compliance to another party by, for example, sale or transfer of ownership.
(4) The violations continuing during the period of the extension will not constitute a danger to the health and safety of the occupants or the general public.
(h) The housing code appeals board or the director of health, as a result of an administrative hearing held pursuant to subsection (c) hereof, may grant a variance in a specific case and from a specific provision of this chapter subject to any conditions deemed necessary by the board or the director to assure continued conformance to the provisions of this chapter and the protection of the public health. Notwithstanding the above, the board or the director may grant the variance only if specific findings of fact are made based on evidence related to the following:
(1) There are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of any notice or order as it applies to the specific case that outweigh the benefits to the occupants and general public health.
(2) The effect of the variance will not be contrary to the health and safety of the occupants of the premises or the general public.
(3) An extension would not constitute an appropriate remedy under the circumstances of the particular case.
(4) Such variance is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter in securing the public health, safety and general welfare.
(i) No variance shall be construed as having general application to the enforcement of the specific part of this code from which the variance is granted.