Torrington, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 161 § 161-4

ABANDONED, INOPERABLE VEHICLE: Any unregistered or inoperable car, truck, aircraft, camper, motorcycle or moped, recreational vehicle (e.g., golf cart, snowmobile, water sled, all-terrain vehicle, etc.) boat or other watercraft, tractor, cart, trailer, riding mower, or farming or construction equipment whether self-propelled or towed not kept within a fully enclosed structure. It shall be a defense that the vehicle is not abandoned if it is currently registered with a state or federal licensing agency such as a Department of Motor Vehicles, or other agency that licenses the particular type of vehicle. Inoperable shall mean that the vehicle is no longer being used for its intended purpose evidenced by two or more of the following conditions: (1)
Engine no longer starts or is missing;
(2) Missing or flat tires or wheels, or other missing parts necessary for locomotion;
(3) Missing doors or windows
(4) Presence of grass or other vegetation or debris on or about the vehicle, indicating immobility;
(5) Holes, rust, or other evidence of obvious physical decay or neglect, lack of maintenance or excessive use; or
(6) Use for another purpose (e.g., storage).
ABANDONED PREMISES: Any premises: (1)
Which has not been legally occupied for at least one year; and
(2) Has not been actively marketed for sale for six months at a price reflective of market conditions; and
(3) Real property taxes have been delinquent for one year or more; or
(4) The owner has declared to be abandoned in writing to the Building Official, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, or the Blight Enforcement Officer.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE: A structure, the use of which is customarily incidental and subordinate to that of the principal building, structure, or use on the same lot.
BLIGHTED CONDITION: The presence of any of the following: (1)
Doors, windows, or other apertures that:
(a) Are broken or missing;
(b) Are boarded up with unpainted wood, metal, or other material;
(c) The material used to board up the windows or doors in question has been broken, pried off or apart, or otherwise vandalized; or
(d) The screening contains tears or is unsecured;
(2) Exterior walls that contain holes, breaks, loose or rotting materials; or not properly surface-coated to prevent deterioration or the paint on which is significantly chipped or peeling; foundation walls that contain significant open cracks or breaks; or collapsing/missing walls, floors, or roof;
(3) Overhang extensions including, but not limited to, canopies, marquees, signs, awnings, stairways, fire escapes, standpipes, and exhaust ducts which contain rust, tearing, fading, or other decay; and chimneys and similar appurtenances which are in a state of disrepair;
(4) Fences, screen walls, and retaining walls that create a hazard or are not structurally sound, or are in a state of disrepair. Such hazards, blights, or conditions of disrepair include, but are not limited to, leaning fences or retaining walls, fences that are missing slats or blocks, graffiti, peeling or chipped paint, rotting, damaged, or in a state of disrepair;
(5) Dead trees deemed hazardous to the public or to adjacent property by tree warden in consultation with an arborist;
(6) Swimming pools, spas, or architectural pools that are not properly maintained or are in a state of disrepair or accumulating stagnant or unsanitary water;
(7) One or more abandoned or inoperable vehicles not kept within a fully enclosed structure on the premises;
(8) Unrepaired fire or water damage;
(9) Vandalism or other damage to the extent that it is a factor in depreciating property values in the neighborhood;
(10) Display lights or exterior signs in a broken or disassembled state;
(11) Debris on premises; or
(12) Grass or weeds in excess of 10 inches, or shrubbery that has a deleterious effect on the aesthetics of the property;
(13) Vermin and/or animal infestations.
BLIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER(S): The individual(s) charged with the enforcement of the Blight Ordinance under the supervision of the Blight Task Force appointed by the Mayor.
BLIGHTED PREMISES: Those premises defined in Section 161-2A which the Blight Enforcement Officer, Building Official, Fire Marshal, City Planner, the Chief of Police, or the Director of Health or their designee has identified as meeting the following: (1)
One or more conditions contrary to building, zoning, fire, housing, or health codes that pose a significant risk to health or safety; or
(2) Four or more occurrences in a one-year period of any of the following: violations of building, fire, zoning, housing or health codes; or
(3) Two or more blighted conditions that do not pose a significant risk to health or safety as identified by the Code Enforcement Official(s); or
(4) Repeated documentation of illegal or nuisance activity by the Police Department; or
(5) Is abandoned in accordance with 161-4B.
BUILDING: Any commercial establishment or other structure used for occupancy or storage including, but not limited to, mobile homes, manufactured homes, factory-built buildings, houses, or accessory structures.
BUILDING OFFICIAL: Has the meaning set forth in G.S. § 29-260.
CITATION HEARING OFFICER: An individual or individuals appointed by the Mayor to conduct hearings authorized in this chapter by G.S. § 7-152c.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL(S): Refers to the Blight Enforcement Officer(s), Police Chief, Fire Chief, Chief Building Official, City Planner, Director of the Torrington Area Health District, the Fire Marshal, the Director of Economic Development, the Director of Public Works, the Corporation Counsel or any of their designees acting within their regulatory authority to enforce the Blight Ordinance.
DAYS: Calendar days, not including the day of receipt of any required notice.
DEBRIS: Material which is incapable of immediately performing the function for which it was designed including, but not limited to: abandoned, discarded, or unused objects; junk comprised of equipment such as automobiles, boats, and recreation vehicles which are un-registered or missing parts, not complete in appearance and in an obvious state of disrepair; parts of automobiles, furniture, appliances, cans, boxes, scrap metal, tires, batteries, containers and garbage which is in public view.
DISREPAIR: The condition of needing repair; an impaired or neglected state.
NEIGHBORHOOD: An area of the City comprised of buildings, structures, or parcels of land, any part of which is within a radius of 1,000 feet of any other part of another building, structure, or parcel of land within said City.
NUISANCE: An act or failure to act resulting in an interference with the use and enjoyment of property, or as further described in the Connecticut General Statutes.
OWNER: Any person, institution, foundation, corporation, partnership, entity, person with equitable interests or authority that holds title to or leases property within the City.
PREMISES: A platted lot or part thereof or un-platted lot or parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or commercial establishment, and includes any such building, accessory structure, or other structure thereon, or any part thereof. The term premises," where the context requires, shall be deemed to include any dwellings, parcels of land, or structures contained within the scope of this article.
SIGNIFICANT RISK TO HEALTH OR SAFETY: Refers to the conditions that would likely result in illness, injury, or death if allowed to persist.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT: A reasonable amount as determined in accordance with the provisions of the G.S. § 7-148ff based on the yearly analysis of costs to the City for code enforcement and inspection as well as fire and personnel and enforceable as a tax lien. Special assessment has been set at $2,500.00 per year.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FUND: A fund or account dedicated to the enforcement and remediation of blighted properties.
STRUCTURE: That which has been or is built or constructed and which is or should be fastened, anchored, attached, or rests on a building, foundation, or on the ground including, but not limited to, any building, fences, fire escapes, railings, towers, sidewalks, or stairways.
VACANT: A period of 90 days or longer during which a building or structure intended for occupation or part thereof is not occupied.
WILLFUL: Voluntary and intentional, but not necessarily malicious.