Vernon, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6 art. II (2026) § 6-17

The following sections are hereby revised: 101.1. Code. This ordinance shall be known as the Property Maintenance Code of the Town of Vernon, herein referred as "this code." 103.1. General. The [building official] zoning enforcement officer is hereby designated as the code official. 103.4. Liability. The code official, officer or employee charged with the enforcement of this code, while acting for the jurisdiction, shall not thereby be rendered liable personally, and is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage accruing to persons or property as a result of an act required or permitted in the discharge of official duties. Any suit instituted against any officer or employee because of an act performed by that officer or employee in the lawful discharge of duties and under the provisions of this code shall be defended by the legal representative of the jurisdiction until the final termination of the proceedings. The code official or any subordinate shall not be liable for costs in an action, suit or proceeding that is instituted in pursuance of the provisions of this code; and any officer, acting in good faith and without malice, shall be free from liability for acts performed under any of its provisions or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of official duties in connection therewith. 106.3. Prosecution of violation. Any person failing to comply with a notice of violation or order served in accordance with Section 107 shall be liable for a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) per violation in accordance with section 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances, Town of Vernon. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. If the notice of violation is not complied with, the code official shall issue a citation. The citation may be enforced per Section 7-152c of the General Statutes and section 2-5 of the Code of Ordinances. 106.4. Reserved for future use. 111.1. Application for appeal. Any person directly affected by a decision of the code official or a notice or order issued under this code shall have the right to appeal to the citation hearing officer who, in addition to the hearing appeals under Ordinance No. 218 "Hearing Procedure for Citations" codified herein as section 2-5 , shall also hear appeals from decisions of the code official under the property maintenance code, provided that a written application for appeal is filed within thirty (30) days after the day the decision, notice or order was served. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted there under have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, the requirements of this code are adequately satisfied by other means, that the strict application of any requirement of this code would cause an undue hardship or any other valid defense recognized by law. 111.2. Reserved for future use. 111.2.1. Reserved for future use. 111.2.5. Reserved for future use. 111.7. Court review. Any person, whether or not a previous party of the appeal, shall have the right to appeal from a property maintenance code decision of the citation hearing officer in accordance with the provisions of Section 7-152c(g) of the General Statutes. 111.8. Reserved for future use. 112.4. Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) or more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day. 302.4. Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of twelve (12) inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. "Weeds" shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 106.3 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property. 304.14. Insect screens. Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm) and every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition. Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellent fans, are employed. 602.3. Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one (1) or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from September 1 to May 1 to maintain a minimum temperature of 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. Exceptions: 1. When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity. The winter outdoor design temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code. 2. In areas where the average monthly temperature is above 30°F (-1°C) a minimum temperature of 65°F (18°C) shall be maintained. 602.4. Occupiable workspaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat to maintain a temperature of not less than 65°F (18°C) from September 1 through May 1 during the period the spaces are occupied. Exceptions: 1. Processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions. 2. Areas in which person are primarily engaged in vigorous physical activities. 3. Warehouse, storage rooms and similar areas that are not occupied on a constant basis. 702.1. General. A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel shall be provided from any point in a building or structure to the public way. Means of egress shall comply with the 2005 Connecticut State Fire Safety Code. 702.2. Aisles. The required width of aisles in accordance with 2005 Connecticut State Fire Safety Code shall be unobstructed.