Greenwich, Conn., Town Code ch. 5 § 5-36
Extermination of rodents
Operative Text
(a) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests in or on the premises. Every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only dwelling unit within the dwelling that is infested. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonably insectproof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.
Greenwich Town Code ch. 5 § 5-36 establishes a shared but conditional responsibility for pest extermination in residential dwellings. In a single-unit dwelling, the occupant bears full responsibility for addressing insect, rodent, or other pest infestations. In multi-unit buildings, responsibility shifts to the property owner when infestation affects two or more units, exists in shared or common areas, or stems from the owner's failure to keep the structure in a ratproof or reasonably insectproof condition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Greenwich Town Code ch. 5 § 5-36, property owners of multi-unit dwellings are generally responsible for extermination when pests are found in two or more units, in common or shared areas, or when the infestation results from the building's failure to meet ratproof or insectproof standards. Compliant operators typically conduct regular structural inspections to seal entry points, maintain pest-resistant conditions throughout the building, and arrange professional extermination promptly when qualifying infestations are identified. Keeping documentation of inspections and remediation efforts is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Greenwich Town Code ch. 5 § 5-36 gives tenants in single-unit dwellings primary responsibility for pest control, but tenants in multi-unit buildings may have grounds to hold their landlord accountable when infestations spread to multiple units, appear in shared spaces, or result from structural deficiencies the owner failed to address. Tenants who believe their situation falls under the owner's responsibility may consider documenting the infestation with photographs and written notices to the landlord, and can explore filing a complaint with the relevant local housing or health authority. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Greenwich housing regulations can help clarify which party bears responsibility under § 5-36 in a given set of circumstances.
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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