Old Saybrook, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (2026) § 166-10

No person shall operate a rooming house or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house, which is not in compliance with the appropriate provisions of every section of this code. No owner shall let to another person any rooming unit unless it is clean and sanitary and complies with all applicable requirements of the Town of Old Saybrook. A. No person shall operate a rooming house unless he or she holds a valid rooming house license issued by the Board of Selectmen in the name of the operator and for the specific dwelling or dwelling unit. The operator shall apply to the Board of Selectmen upon compliance by the operator with the applicable provisions of this code and of any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. This license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place within the rooming house at all times. No such license shall be transferable. Every person holding such a permit shall give notice in writing to the Board of Selectmen within 24 hours after having sold, transferred, given away, or otherwise disposed of ownership of, interest in, or control of any rooming house. Such notice shall include the name and address of the person succeeding to the ownership or control of such rooming house. Every rooming house license shall expire at the end of one year following its date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked as hereinafter provided. B. At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system approved under the provisions of the Connecticut Public Health Code and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each six persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family wherever they share the use of said facilities, provided that: (1) In a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/2 the required number of water closets and provided that there shall be at least one water closet. (2) All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible to all persons sharing such facilities and from a common hall or passageway and provided that such facilities are not located more than one floor above or below the rooming unit or units served. (3) Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower stall be supplied with heated and unheated water under pressure at all times. (4) If the rooming house has only one bathroom for use by the occupants of the rooming units said bathroom shall not be located below grade. C. The following provision shall apply in all rooming houses: (1) Cooking in rooming units is prohibited. (2) Communal cooking and dining facilities in a rooming house are prohibited, except as approved by the appropriate authority in writing. (3) All food service and dining facilities provided in a rooming house for the occupants of same shall comply with applicable food service legislation. (4) Access doors to rooming units shall have operating locks to insure privacy. D. Unless exempted by the Board of Selectmen in writing, the operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once a week, and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant, and the operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner. E. Every rooming unit shall comply with all the requirements of this code pertaining to a habitable room. Every rooming unit occupied by one person shall contain at least 110 square feet of floor space and every rooming unit occupied by more than one person shall contain at least 90 square feet for each occupant thereof; further, every rooming unit shall contain also at least four square feet of closet space for each occupant with at least an unobstructed height of five feet. If the closet space is lacking in whole or in part, space of the amount of the deficiency shall be subtracted from the area of the habitable room space when determining occupancy. F. Every rooming unit shall have immediate access to two or more approved means of egress, appropriately marked, leading to safe and open space at ground level or as required by the appropriate statutes, codes and regulations of the Town of Old Saybrook and the State of Connecticut. G. Structurally sound handrails shall be provided on any steps containing two risers or more. Porches, patios and/or balconies located more than three feet higher than the adjacent areas shall have structurally sound protective guard or handrails specified by the State of Connecticut Building Code. H. Access to or egress from each rooming unit shall be provided without passing through any other rooming unit.