Stamford, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-25
Basic equipment and facility requirements
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, sleeping, cooking or eating therein which does not comply with the following requirements: A. Every dwelling unit shall have a room or portion of a room in which food may be prepared and/or cooked and which shall be supplied with the following: (1) A kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system installed and maintained in accordance with the Plumbing and Building Codes of the city and approved by the Director of Health and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated water under pressure. (2) Cabinets and/or shelves for the storage of eating and drinking and cooking equipment and utensils and of food that does not, under ordinary summer conditions, require refrigeration for safekeeping, and a counter for food preparation. Said cabinets and/or shelves and counter shall be adequate for the permissible occupancy of the dwelling unit and shall be of sound construction, furnished with surfaces that are easily cleanable and that will not impart any toxic or deleterious effect to food. (3) A stove or equivalent device for cooking food and a refrigerator or equivalent device for the safe storage of food at temperatures less than fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50° F.) but more than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32° F.) under ordinary summer conditions, which are properly installed with all necessary connections for safe, sanitary and efficient operation. Such stove, refrigerator and/or equivalent devices need not be installed where an agreement between the owner and occupant has been arranged in writing, but sufficient space and adequate electrical outlets must nevertheless be provided for the safe and efficient installation and operation of said stove, refrigerator and/or equivalent devices. B. Every dwelling unit shall contain a room which affords privacy to a person within said room and which is equipped with a flush water closet in good working condition. Said flush water closet shall be connected to a water system that at all times provides an adequate amount of running water under pressure so as to cause the toilet to be operated properly and shall be connected to a sewer system or septic tank which is approved by the Director of Health. C. Every dwelling unit shall contain a room affording privacy to a person which is equipped with a lavatory sink. Said lavatory sink may be in the same room as the flush water closet or in another room. The lavatory sink shall be in good working condition and properly connected to a water supply and sewer system which is approved by the Director of Health and shall provide at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure. D. Every dwelling unit shall contain within a room which affords privacy to a person within such room a bathtub or shower in good working condition. Said bathtub or shower may be in the same room as the flush water closet or in another room and shall be properly connected to a water supply system which is approved by the Director of Health and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated running water under pressure and to a sewer system or septic tank which is approved by the Director of Health. E. Every kitchen sink, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required under the provisions of Subsections A, C and D of this section shall be properly connected with both hot-and cold-water lines. F. Every dwelling unit shall have adequate rubbish storage facilities, the type and location of which are approved by the Director of Health and the Commissioner of Public Works. G. Every dwelling unit shall have adequate garbage disposal facilities or garbage storage containers, the type and location of which are approved by the Director of Health and the Commissioner of Public Works. H. Every dwelling shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot-water lines required under the provision of Subsection E of this section and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140° F.). Such supplied water heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this subsection when the dwelling or dwelling unit heating facilities required under the provisions of § 146-26E are not in operation. I. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with one (1) or more approved means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level as required by the laws of the state and the ordinances of the city.
Stamford Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-25 establishes a baseline set of physical conditions that every dwelling unit must meet before it can be occupied or rented. These requirements cover functional kitchen facilities (including a sink, food storage, and cooking and refrigeration equipment), private bathroom facilities (including a flush toilet, lavatory sink, and bathtub or shower), hot and cold running water at all required fixtures reaching at least 140°F, adequate rubbish and garbage facilities, and at least one approved means of egress. No dwelling unit may be occupied—whether by an owner or a tenant—unless all of these conditions are satisfied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 146-25, compliant operators ensure that every rental unit is equipped with a properly functioning kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory sink, and bathtub or shower, each connected to approved water and sewer systems. Landlords also maintain water heating facilities capable of delivering water at no less than 140°F at all required fixtures, and they secure Director of Health and Commissioner of Public Works approval for rubbish and garbage storage arrangements. Where a written agreement allows a tenant to supply their own stove or refrigerator, the unit must still provide adequate space and electrical outlets for those appliances, and all egress paths must meet state and city requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 146-25 gives tenants a clear baseline: the dwelling unit they occupy must include working kitchen facilities, a private flush toilet, lavatory sink, bathtub or shower, hot and cold running water, proper waste storage, and a safe means of egress. If any of these required elements are missing or in disrepair, a tenant may have grounds to raise a violation under this provision—options can include filing a complaint with the Stamford Director of Health or relevant city authority, or raising the deficiency as a defense in a housing proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can help explain what documentation to gather and what local processes are 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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