New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances tit. V § 303
Space, use, location requirements imposed on occupants and lessors (New Haven Housing Code)
Operative Text
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: (a) Total floor area per occupant. Every dwelling unit shall contain at least one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor area for the first occupant thereof and at least one hundred (100) additional square feet of floor area for every additional occupant thereof, the floor areas to be calculated on the basis of total usable floor area of habitable rooms. (b) Floor area of sleeping rooms. In very dwelling unit of two (2) or more rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one (1) occupant shall contain at least seventy (70) square feet of usable floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one (1) occupant shall contain at least fifty (50) additional square feet of usable floor area for each additional occupant thereof. (c) Relationship between ceiling height and floor area. At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least seven (7) feet. The floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five (5) feet or where the room width is less than seven (7) feet shall not be considered in computing the usable floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof. (d) Use of cellar space as habitable room. No cellar space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit without written permission from the enforcing officer and the building inspector. (e) Use of basement space as habitable room. No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless, in addition to other provisions of this title: (1) The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and insulated against dampness; and (2) The minimum aggregate glass area of windows as required under subparagraph (a) of paragraph 301 is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area.
New Haven Code of Ordinances Title V § 303 sets minimum space standards that apply to every occupied dwelling or dwelling unit in the city. The rule establishes required square footage per occupant for overall living space and for sleeping rooms specifically, and it sets ceiling-height and room-width thresholds that determine how floor area is counted. Cellar and basement spaces face additional restrictions before they may legally be used as habitable rooms, including waterproofing requirements and, for cellars, written permission from the enforcing officer and building inspector.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators renting residential units in New Haven must ensure each dwelling meets the per-occupant floor-area minimums set out in Title V § 303 before allowing occupancy — at least 150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 additional square feet for each subsequent occupant, with sleeping rooms sized according to the provision's separate thresholds. Compliant landlords also verify that ceiling heights and room widths meet the standards used to calculate usable floor area, so that only qualifying space is counted toward occupancy limits. Before renting any cellar space as a habitable room, a compliant operator obtains written permission from the enforcing officer and the building inspector, and basement spaces are only offered for habitation after confirming the waterproofing and window-grade requirements of § 303(e) are satisfied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in New Haven have a right to occupy dwelling units that meet the minimum space, ceiling-height, and sleeping-room standards established by Title V § 303. If a unit appears to be overcrowded relative to its usable floor area, or if a cellar or basement is being rented without meeting the provision's specific requirements, a tenant may raise these conditions as a potential code violation. General enforcement paths include contacting New Haven's local housing or building inspection office to request an inspection, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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 September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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