Bristol, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-80
Windows, doors and other openings
Operative Text
(a) All windows, doors and openings intended to be left opened to the outside shall be kept in good repair and workable condition and shall be easily opened and closed by the occupants of the premises. (b) Every window, exterior door and hatchway or similar device shall be so constructed as to exclude insects during that portion of the year when there is a need for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects. (c) No broken, cracked or missing window panes shall be allowed. (d) Every doorway used for ventilation and opening directly from a dwelling unit to outside space shall have supplied properly fitting screens having at least sixteen-mesh and shall have a safe closing device. (e) Every window or other device that is opened to outdoor space shall be supplied with screens fixed to the frame, except that such screens shall not be required in rooms deemed by the director of health to be located high enough as to be free from such insects and/or in rooms located in areas of the city which are deemed by the director of health to have so few insects as to render screens unnecessary. (f) All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements, ground or first floors and roofs which have a half-inch diameter or more opening shall be rodent and rat-proofed in an approved manner if they are within forty-eight (48) inches of the existing exterior ground level immediately below such openings or if such opening may be reached by rodents or rats from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires, cornices, stairs, roofs and other items, such as trees or vines, or by burrowing. (g) All windows located at or near ground level used or intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at or near ground level and all exterior doorways which might provide an entry for rodents or rats shall be supplied with adequate screens or such other devices as will effectively prevent the entrance of rats into the premises. (h) The owner of a dwelling unit shall be responsible for providing and hanging all screens and double or storm doors and windows whenever the same are required under the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, except where there is a written agreement between the owner and occupant obligating the occupant to do so. In the absence of such an agreement, maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows, once installed in any one (1) season, becomes the responsibility of the occupant. The occupant's responsibility shall be exclusive to his or her dwelling unit.
Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. V § 12-80 establishes standards for windows, doors, and other openings in residential dwellings. All such openings must be kept in good repair, operable, and free of broken or missing panes. The provision also requires insect screens on windows and ventilation doorways during seasons when flying insects are a concern, and mandates rodent-proofing of openings near ground level that could serve as entry points for pests. Responsibility for providing and initially hanging screens is generally placed on the property owner, while ongoing maintenance within a season typically falls to the occupant unless a written agreement states otherwise.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bristol Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. V § 12-80, compliant property owners generally ensure that all windows, exterior doors, and openings are in good working order, with no broken or missing panes. Owners are responsible for supplying and installing required insect screens—at least sixteen-mesh on ventilation doorways—and for rodent-proofing any exterior openings with a half-inch or larger diameter that are within 48 inches of ground level or otherwise reachable by rodents. Once screens are installed for a season, a written agreement can shift ongoing maintenance responsibility to the occupant; without such an agreement, that responsibility defaults to the occupant for their own unit only.
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 § 12-80 gives occupants the right to windows and doors that open and close easily, are free of broken panes, and are equipped with proper insect screens and rodent barriers where required. If an owner has not provided or installed required screens or has left openings in disrepair, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation under this section. Tenants experiencing these conditions can consider contacting Bristol's local housing or health department to report a potential code violation, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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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