Trumbull, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 10 § 10-7
Light and ventilation
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 therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: (1) Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) window or skylight facing directly outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be ten (10) percent of the floor area of such room. Wherever walls or other portions of structures face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures are located less than three (3) feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least fifteen (15) percent of the total floor area of such room. (2) Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) window or skylight which can easily be opened, or such other device as will adequately ventilate the room. The total of openable window area in every habitable room shall be equal to at least forty-five (45) percent of the minimum window area size or minimum skylight-type window size, as required in subsection (1) of this section, except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the appropriate authority. (3) Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirement for habitable rooms contained in subsections (1) and (2), except that no window or skylight shall be required in adequately ventilated bathrooms and water closets equipped with a ventilation system which is approved by the proper authority. (4) Where there is electric service available from power lines which are not more than three hundred (300) feet away from a dwelling, every dwelling unit and all public and common areas shall be supplied with electric service, outlets and fixtures which shall be properly installed, shall be maintained in good and safe working condition, and shall be connected to the source of electric power in a manner prescribed by the ordinances, rules and regulation of the city. The capacity of such services and the number of outlets and fixtures shall be as follows: a. Every habitable room shall have an electric service and outlets and/or fixtures capable of providing at least three (3) watts per square foot of floor area. b. Every habitable room shall have at least one (1) floor- or wall-type electric convenience outlet for each sixty (60) square feet or fraction thereof of floor area, and in no case less than two (2) such outlets. c. Every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and public hall shall contain at least one (1) supplied ceiling- or wall-type electric light fixture. d. Convenient switches for turning on one (1) light in each room or passageway shall be located so as to permit the area ahead to be lighted. (5) Every public hall and stairway in every multiple dwelling shall be adequately lighted at all times so as to provide at least six (6) footcandles of light at the tread or floor level. Every public hall and stairway in structures containing not more than two (2) dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches, controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed, instead of full-time lighting.
Trumbull Municipal Code ch. 10 § 10-7 establishes minimum standards for light, ventilation, and electrical service in dwellings. Every habitable room must have windows or skylights meeting specific size thresholds relative to floor area, along with openable ventilation meeting at least 45 percent of that minimum window area. Bathrooms, common areas, and stairways carry their own related requirements, and where electric service is accessible within 300 feet, dwellings must be wired with outlets, fixtures, and capacity meeting defined minimums.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwellings in Trumbull should ensure that every habitable room meets the window-area and openable-ventilation ratios set out in ch. 10 § 10-7, including the 10 percent floor-area window minimum and the 45 percent openable-area requirement. Electrical systems must be installed and maintained to provide at least three watts per square foot, with the required number of outlets and fixtures in each room type. Common halls and stairways in multi-unit buildings must be kept adequately lit at all times to the six-footcandle standard, and bathrooms without windows must have an authority-approved ventilation system in place.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Trumbull have a right to habitable rooms that meet the light and ventilation standards of ch. 10 § 10-7, including properly sized windows or skylights, adequate openable ventilation, and compliant electrical service. If a unit lacks sufficient natural light, ventilation, or electrical outlets and fixtures, that condition may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards can document the conditions, raise the issue with their landlord in writing, contact the appropriate Trumbull municipal authority, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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