Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-107

A. The city shall have authority to file a lien on the land records upon the real property against which costs were incurred or a penalty was imposed, as applicable, in either or both of the following circumstances:
(1) Costs incurred in review of applications or conducting inspections, enforcement, repairs, demolition, maintenance, removal, or other disposition, or in the execution of remedial action pursuant to this chapter.
(2) Any penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter.
B. Prior to filing such lien, the director of licenses and inspections must:
(1) In the case of costs incurred, satisfy notice requirements if any pursuant to section 18-105 (B) of this code and record on the land records a certificate subscribed and sworn to by the director of licenses and inspections giving the address of the housing or housing unit, identifying the record owner of the housing or housing unit, the amount claimed as a lien (which may include an additional overhead and administration charge of up to six (6) percent of the costs incurred), the date of commencement of the activities undertaken, and the date of completion of the activities undertaken; and stating that the amount is justly due and that the expenses have been incurred in pursuance of review of applications. inspections, enforcement, or other disposition, or in the execution of remedial action pursuant to this chapter. The director of licenses and inspections shall file such certificate not later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the activities giving rise to the cost, and not later than thirty (30) days after lodging the certificate, provide notice to the owner in accordance with the following requirements. Notice shall be satisfied if the director of licenses and inspections or the director of health shall serve a true and attested copy of a certificate upon the owner of the housing for which costs have been incurred by leaving with such owner or at such owner's usual place of abode a true and attested copy thereof. If the owner does not reside in the city, but has a registered agent therein, the notice may be so served upon the registered agent; otherwise it may be served by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by mailing a true and attested copy of the notice by registered or certified mail to the owner at the place where such owner resides. If such copy is returned unclaimed, notice to such owner shall be given by publication in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 1-2. When there are two (2) or more owners, the notice shall be so served on each owner.
(2) In the case of a penalty imposed pursuant to a violation, record on the land records a notice of violation and index such violation in the name of the property owner no later than thirty (30) days after the penalty was imposed.
C. Each such lien shall be effective from the time of the recording on the land records.
D. Each lien for costs incurred shall take precedence over all transfers and encumbrances recorded after such time, and all other liens and encumbrances, except municipal taxes and assessments, recorded previously to the existence of such lien, except for liens done for work for demolition, for which chapter 2 of the charter may limit precedential effect. Each lien for penalties imposed shall have the same priority as judgment liens in accordance with G.S. § 7-152c(f).
E. Unless proceedings to discharge such lien are taken by the party against whom or whose real property a lien is claimed, the filing shall, as to all persons having actual notice, become conclusive evidence that the amount claimed in the notice of lien with interest is due and is a just lien upon the premises.
F. Any lien pursuant to this section may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage.
G. Any lien pursuant to this section may be discharged or dissolved in the manner provided in G.S. §§ 49-35a to 49-37, inclusive.
H. The recovery or repayment of any penalties or costs incurred pursuant to this chapter may be obtained by the city by collecting rents directly from any tenants of the dwelling involved, or by a suit against the owner of the dwelling, or both, pursuant to procedures contained in G.S. chapter 833a, or by the appointment of a receiver responsible for the collection of rents pursuant to G.S. § 47a-56a.
I. If the city does not file a lien to recover costs per section 18-107 (A)(1) of this code, then the city may assess the amount of such costs against the property for which such costs were incurred. Upon certification by the city agency incurring such cost of the assessment amount due and owing reasonably related to the city's actual cost, the tax collector shall add the amount of such assessment to the extent unpaid to the taxes due on such real estate and such amount shall become part of the taxes to be collected at the same time and shall bear interest at such rates and in such manner as provided for delinquent taxes in accordance with the general statutes. Any amount added to the assessment under this section shall constitute a lien upon the property for which such costs were incurred, from the date such amount was due. Each such lien may be continued, recorded, and released in the manner provided by the general statutes for continuing, recording, and releasing property tax liens. Each such lien may be enforced in the same manner as property tax liens.
State Law reference-- Similar provisions, G.S. §§ 12-169b, 49-34, 49-35, 49-73b.