Stamford, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-33
Compliance required; certificate of occupancy
Operative Text
Rooming houses and hotels shall comply with all foregoing provisions of this chapter, except § § 146-15 through 146-22 and 146-25 , and with the additional requirements as provided in § 146-39 . A. No owner or other person shall occupy or let to another person any vacant dwelling or dwelling unit, rooming unit or hotel unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary, fit for human occupancy and comply with all applicable legal requirements of the state and the city. B. No apartment in any multiple dwelling unit shall be occupied for human habitation after a vacancy and until a certificate of apartment occupancy has been issued by the Director of Health or his authorized representative, certifying that such apartment conforms to the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 352 of the General Statutes of Connecticut; provided that no provision of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit human occupancy of such apartment during the pendency of an application for such certificate. Any person aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate of apartment occupancy may appeal to the Superior Court, Judicial District of Fairfield, and such appeal shall be privileged. [Amended 3-5-79 by Ord. No. 391] C. No rent shall be recoverable by the owner or lessor of such apartment house for the occupation of any apartment for which a certificate of apartment occupancy has not been obtained prior to the rental thereof in violation of Subsection B of this section. D. [Amended 3-5-79 by Ord. No. 391] The provisions of Subsections B and C of this section shall not apply to any apartment house which has been constructed or substantially reconstructed within a period of fifteen (15) years next preceding the date such certificate of apartment occupancy would otherwise be required hereunder, not to any apartment house owned by a housing authority organized under the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 128, which has been constructed or altered pursuant to a contract with the federal government or the state providing for annual contributions or other financial assistance. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, this section is not intended to include nor shall it be construed to apply to: (1) Buildings containing dwelling units as defined and created under the Unit Ownership Act of the State of Connecticut wherein seventy-five percent (75%) of such units are in individual ownership other than by the declarant; nor (2) Dwelling units in single ownership and owned and leased under the cooperative form of ownership, and multiple dwellings of three (3) units.
Stamford Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-33 establishes that no vacant dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or hotel unit may be occupied or rented unless it is clean, sanitary, fit for human habitation, and meets all applicable state and city legal requirements. For apartments in multiple dwellings, a certificate of apartment occupancy issued by the Director of Health is required after a vacancy before the unit may be re-occupied, though an applicant may continue occupying the unit while that certificate is pending. Critically, if a landlord rents an apartment without first obtaining the required certificate, no rent is legally recoverable for that period — with certain exemptions for newer buildings, housing authority properties, condominium buildings meeting ownership thresholds, and small cooperative or three-unit dwellings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Stamford Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-33, compliant operators of multiple dwellings generally ensure that a certificate of apartment occupancy is obtained from the Director of Health before re-renting any unit that has become vacant, confirming the unit meets the standards of this chapter and Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 352. Operators of rooming houses and hotels should also verify compliance with the broader chapter requirements, noting the specific sections that are exempted for those property types. Landlords whose properties fall under the exemptions — such as buildings constructed or substantially reconstructed within the past 15 years, qualifying condominium buildings, or small cooperative or three-unit dwellings — should confirm whether those exemptions apply before assuming the certificate requirement does not govern their property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Stamford Code of Ordinances ch. 146 § 146-33 provides tenants with a meaningful protection: if a landlord rents an apartment in a covered multiple dwelling without first obtaining a certificate of apartment occupancy, the landlord may be unable to recover rent for that period. Tenants who believe a unit was rented to them without the required certificate may raise this as a defense in a rent dispute or explore filing a complaint with the relevant city authority, such as the Director of Health's office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Stamford housing law can help clarify whether a specific building falls within one of the provision's exemptions and what general options 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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