New Britain, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 13 § 13-40
Owner or occupant to grant right-of-entry; search warrant to be obtained upon denial; emergency right-of-entry; penalty
Operative Text
(a) The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, hotel and hotel unit, or the person in charge thereof, upon presentation by the director of health or the chief building inspector, or their authorized representative, of proper identification, shall give the enforcing officer entry and free access to such dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, hotel, hotel unit, and its premises, provided that no inspection shall be conducted except during the hours designated in section 13-39 . (b) Whenever an owner, operator or occupant of a dwelling unit, dwelling, rooming unit, rooming house, hotel, hotel unit or premises shall deny the enforcing officer right of entry for the purpose of inspection, examination or survey, the enforcing officer shall not so enter until he presents a duly granted search warrant describing the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, hotel, hotel unit or premises to the owner, operator or occupant thereof. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the entry of the chief building inspector or the director of health or their authorized representatives at any time when, in their judgment, an emergency tending to create an immediate danger to the public health, welfare or safety exists, or when such entry is required by the owner, operator or occupant of the dwelling, or when the enforcing officer presents a duly issued search warrant to such owner, operator or occupant. (d) Any owner, operator or occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, hotel, hotel unit or premises, after such notification, refusing to permit, or impeding, entry of and free access to any part of any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, hotel, hotel unit or premises for the purposes of inspection, examination or survey under the provisions of this section or in violation of a court order obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 1-15 of this Code for each offense.
New Britain Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. II, div. 2 § 13-40 establishes the conditions under which housing inspectors may enter residential and lodging properties. Upon showing proper identification, the director of health or chief building inspector—or their authorized representatives—must be granted entry during designated inspection hours. If entry is refused, inspectors must obtain a search warrant before proceeding, though emergencies posing an immediate threat to public health, welfare, or safety allow entry at any time without prior notice. Refusing or obstructing entry after proper notification, or in violation of a court order, constitutes a misdemeanor punishable under section 1-15 of the Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 13-40, compliant property owners and operators generally allow the director of health or chief building inspector access to all parts of their properties when those officials present proper identification during the hours set out in section 13-39. Operators who have questions about an inspector's credentials or the scope of an inspection may ask for clarification, but outright refusal or obstruction after proper notification exposes them to misdemeanor liability for each offense. Maintaining a cooperative relationship with inspectors and keeping records of inspection visits are practices commonly associated with ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 13-40 also applies to occupants, meaning tenants have both a right and a legal obligation to allow properly identified inspectors access during designated hours. Tenants should be aware that inspectors who are denied entry must obtain a search warrant before re-entering—except in genuine emergencies—which provides a procedural safeguard against unauthorized access. If a tenant believes an inspection was conducted improperly or without required identification or a warrant, tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services familiar with New Britain housing law can help explain 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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.