Glastonbury, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 9, art. III § 9-100
Use of basement space as habitable room or dwelling
Operative Text
No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless, in addition to the other provisions of this article: (1) The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and insulated against dampness if required by the director of health; (2) The minimum aggregate glass area of windows as required under section 9-67 , is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area; (3) Two (2) means of egress are provided from such basement space.
Glastonbury Code of Ordinances ch. 9, art. III § 9-100 establishes minimum conditions that must be met before any basement space may legally serve as a habitable room or dwelling unit. The floor and walls must resist water intrusion and dampness as directed by the health authority, windows must meet the aggregate glass-area standard under § 9-67 and sit entirely above the surrounding ground grade, and the space must have two separate means of egress. All three requirements stack on top of any other applicable provisions in the article, meaning none of them can substitute for the others.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators managing residential properties in Glastonbury should ensure that any basement space marketed or rented as a habitable room or dwelling unit fully satisfies ch. 9, art. III § 9-100 before occupancy begins. In practice, this means verifying that floors and walls are waterproofed and insulated against dampness to the satisfaction of the director of health, that qualifying window area under § 9-67 is positioned entirely above exterior grade, and that two distinct egress paths exist from the space. Routine inspections and documentation of waterproofing measures and egress conditions can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with these structural requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Glastonbury Code of Ordinances ch. 9, art. III § 9-100, tenants living in or considering a basement unit have a right to space that meets specific habitability standards, including water-resistant construction, properly positioned windows, and two means of egress. If a basement unit appears to fall short of these requirements — for example, if walls show persistent moisture intrusion or only one exit exists — that condition may be relevant to a housing code complaint filed with the Glastonbury director of health or the local building or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Connecticut housing law can help explain what documentation to gather and what local complaint processes are available under this provision.
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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