Trumbull, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 10 § 10-5
Responsibilities of owners and occupants
Operative Text
(a) No owner or other person shall occupy or let to another person any vacant dwelling or dwelling 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 town. (b) Every owner of a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof. (c) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition that part or those parts of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof that he occupies and controls. (d) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his rubbish in a clean, sanitary and safe manner. (e) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his garbage and any other organic waste which might provide food for rodents in a clean, sanitary and safe manner and, if a container is used for storage pending collection, it shall be rodentproof, insectproof and watertight. (f) Every owner of a dwelling containing three (3) or more dwelling units shall supply adequate facilities or containers for the sanitary and safe storage and/or disposal of rubbish and garbage. In the case of single- or two-family dwellings, it shall be the responsibility of the occupant to furnish such facilities or containers. (g) The owner of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall be responsible for providing and hanging all screens and double or storm doors and windows whenever the same are required under the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, except where an agreement between the owner and occupant has been arranged in writing. In the absence of such agreement, maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows, once installed in any one (1) season, become the responsibility of the occupant. (h) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonable insectproof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner. (i) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
Trumbull Municipal Code ch. 10 § 10-5 establishes a shared framework of cleanliness and habitability responsibilities between property owners and the people who live in their dwellings. Owners must ensure vacant units are fit for occupancy before renting them, maintain common areas in multi-unit buildings, supply waste storage facilities in buildings with three or more units, and handle pest extermination when infestations are widespread or caused by structural deficiencies. Occupants, in turn, are responsible for keeping their own spaces sanitary, disposing of rubbish and garbage safely, maintaining plumbing fixtures with reasonable care, and handling pest control when an infestation is limited to their own unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Trumbull Municipal Code ch. 10 § 10-5, compliant property owners generally ensure that every dwelling unit is clean, sanitary, and meets all applicable state and local requirements before it is occupied or re-let. Owners of buildings with two or more units routinely maintain shared and public areas, and those with three or more units supply adequate containers for rubbish and garbage storage. Owners also take responsibility for installing required screens, storm doors, and windows at the start of each season, and for pest extermination whenever an infestation spans multiple units or stems from the building's failure to be ratproof or reasonably insectproof.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Trumbull Municipal Code ch. 10 § 10-5 gives occupants defined responsibilities but also establishes protections: if an infestation is caused by the owner's failure to maintain the structure, or if pests are found in two or more units or in common areas, the duty to exterminate shifts to the owner. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet obligations under this section — such as neglecting common areas, withholding required waste facilities, or refusing to address a building-wide infestation — may consider documenting conditions and raising the violation with Trumbull's local housing or code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations can help occupants understand how ch. 10 § 10-5 applies to their circumstances and what complaint or defense 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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