Norwich, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. IV § 4-153
Communal dining room standards
Operative Text
Where a communal kitchen does not conform to the provisions of section 4-152 relating to the eating of meals therein, meals shall be eaten in a communal dining room that complies with the following standards: (a) It shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area; (b) It shall be supplied with one dining chair and two lineal feet of dining table space for each occupant of the roominghouse permitted to eat in the dining room, the surface of each dining table to be smooth and easily cleanable; (c) It shall be located on the same floor of the roominghouse as the communal kitchen in which the meals are prepared and shall be as nearly adjacent to the communal kitchen as is practicable; and (d) It shall be located within a room accessible to the occupant of each rooming unit sharing such dining room without going outside of the dwelling and without going through a dwelling unit or rooming unit of another occupant.
Norwich Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. IV § 4-153 establishes minimum physical standards for communal dining rooms in rooming houses when the shared kitchen does not meet the meal-eating requirements of section 4-152. The dining room must be at least 70 square feet, furnished with one chair and two linear feet of table space per permitted occupant, and equipped with smooth, cleanable table surfaces. It must be on the same floor as the communal kitchen, as close to it as practicable, and reachable by all sharing occupants without stepping outside the building or passing through another occupant's private unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses subject to Norwich Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. IV § 4-153 generally ensure that any communal dining room meets all four enumerated physical standards before occupants are directed to eat there. Compliant operators maintain accurate occupancy counts so that seating and table-space calculations remain current as tenancy changes, and they verify that table surfaces stay smooth and cleanable through routine maintenance. Keeping the dining room on the same floor as the kitchen and accessible via common areas—rather than through any private unit—are layout requirements that typically need to be addressed at the design or renovation stage.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Norwich Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. IV § 4-153, occupants of a rooming house have a right to a communal dining room that meets specific size, furnishing, location, and accessibility standards whenever the shared kitchen does not qualify for in-kitchen dining under section 4-152. If a dining room appears to fall short—for example, if there are not enough chairs or table space for the number of permitted occupants, or if access requires going outside or through another resident's unit—tenants may document the conditions and raise the deficiency with local housing or code-enforcement authorities in Norwich. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Norwich municipal code can help occupants understand what remedies or complaint processes may be available.
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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