Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a § 19a-357
(Formerly Sec. 19-351). Location of building. Elevator.
Operative Text
No tenement house shall be erected upon the rear of a lot when there is a tenement house on the front of such lot, nor upon the front of any such lot upon the rear of which there is such a tenement house unless the distance between the two tenement houses is at least thirty feet. No tenement house, not existing or actually under construction on July 1, 1929, shall be over four stories in height unless it is equipped with a passenger elevator.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-357 establishes two structural rules for tenement houses in Connecticut. First, if a tenement house already occupies the front of a lot, a second tenement house may not be built at the rear of the same lot—and vice versa—unless the two structures are separated by at least thirty feet. Second, any tenement house not already existing or under construction as of July 1, 1929, that rises more than four stories must be equipped with a passenger elevator.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and developers working with tenement house properties in Connecticut should be aware that Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-357 imposes site-layout and vertical-access requirements. Compliant operators generally verify that any new rear or front construction on a lot with an existing tenement house maintains at least a thirty-foot separation between the two buildings. For buildings taller than four stories that were not in existence or under construction before July 1, 1929, compliant operators ensure a passenger elevator is installed and maintained.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-357 sets baseline standards for tenement house placement and elevator access that may affect habitability and safety in multi-story buildings. Tenants living in a building taller than four stories that lacks a passenger elevator—and that was not already built or under construction before July 1, 1929—may have grounds to raise a concern about compliance with this provision. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing authorities can help residents understand what options are generally available, such as filing a complaint with the appropriate Connecticut housing or building enforcement office.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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