Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-78
Lighting standards
Operative Text
(a) Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors, provided that, if connected to a room or area used seasonally (e.g. porch), then adequate daylight must be possible through this interconnection; have a minimum total window area, measured between stops, at least twelve and one-half (12.5) per cent of the floor area of such room; whenever walls or other portions of structures face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures are located less than three (3) feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area; and whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least fifteen (15) per cent of the total floor area of such room. (b) Every bathroom and water closet compartment and nonhabitable room used for food preparation shall comply with the light standards for habitable rooms contained in this code, except that no window or skylight shall be required in such rooms if they are equipped with a ventilation system in working condition which is approved by the director of health. (c) Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted by natural or artificial light at all times, so as to provide in all parts thereof at least ten (10) footcandles of light at the tread of floor level. Every public hall and stairway in structures containing not more than two (2) dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed instead of full-time lighting.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. V § 12-78 establishes minimum lighting standards for residential spaces. Every habitable room must have a window or skylight providing natural light equal to at least 12.5% of the floor area, with stricter rules applying when obstructions block direct outdoor exposure. Bathrooms and food-preparation areas must meet similar standards unless an approved ventilation system is in place, and shared hallways and stairways in multi-unit buildings must maintain at least 10 footcandles of light at floor level at all times.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. V § 12-78, compliant property operators ensure that every habitable room contains a qualifying window or skylight whose total area meets the 12.5% floor-area threshold, accounting for any obstructions within three feet of the window. Bathrooms and food-prep rooms either meet the same window standards or are equipped with a director-of-health-approved ventilation system. Operators of multi-unit buildings maintain continuous lighting of at least 10 footcandles in all public halls and stairways, while owners of one- or two-unit structures may instead install conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. V § 12-78 gives occupants the right to habitable rooms with adequate natural light and to properly lit common areas in their building. If a room lacks a qualifying window, has obstructed light, or a shared hallway is poorly lit, this provision may be relevant to a housing code complaint. Tenants can consider contacting the local health or housing authority, raising the issue as a code-violation defense in relevant proceedings, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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