Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a § 19a-359
(Formerly Sec. 19-363). Bathrooms and water closets.
Operative Text
In each tenement house erected or subdivided after June 30, 1941, there shall be a water closet in each apartment of two or more rooms. In each tenement house erected after August 31, 1930, and prior to July 1, 1941, there shall be a water closet in each apartment of three or more rooms and at least one water closet for each two apartments of less than three rooms each. Each water closet shall be in a separate compartment or bathroom, upon the same floor with the apartment which it accommodates. Each bathroom, toilet room or other room containing one or more water closets or urinals, which is placed in any building, shall be at all times provided with adequate lighting and shall be ventilated in at least one of the following ways: (1) By a window opening directly upon a street or other open public space or upon a court located on the same lot as the building, and having, between stop beads, an area not less than ten per cent of the floor area nor less than three square feet in any case and a width of not less than one foot; (2) by a window of the size specified in subdivision (1) of this section, or a register, opening on a vent shaft which extends to and through the roof or into a court conforming to the requirements of this section for courts and which has a cross-sectional area of not less than one-fifth of a square foot for each foot of height but not less than nine square feet and a width of not less than sixteen inches in any case, and, unless open to the outer air at the top, a net area of louvre openings in the skylight equal to the maximum required shaft area; (3) by an individual vent flue or duct extending independently of any other flue or duct to and above the roof and having a cross-sectional area of not less than one square foot for two or fewer water closets or urinal fixtures and one-third of a square foot additional for each additional water closet or urinal fixture; (4) by a skylight in the ceiling, having a glazed surface of not less than three square feet and arranged so as to provide ventilating openings of not less than three square feet to the outer air above the roof of the building or into a court conforming to the requirements of this section for courts, for two or fewer water closets or urinal fixtures and two square feet additional for each additional water closet or urinal fixture; or (5) by some approved system of mechanical exhaust ventilation of sufficient capacity to provide not less than four changes of air per hour. Each vent shaft in a tenement house erected after August 31, 1930, shall be constructed of fire-proof material. Not more than two water closets or bathrooms shall open upon such a shaft on one floor of a tenement house, and no two water closet or bathroom windows opening upon such shaft on the same floor shall be opposite each other.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-359 establishes minimum sanitation and ventilation standards for bathrooms and water closets in Connecticut tenement houses. The rule sets out how many water closets must be provided based on when the building was constructed and how many rooms each apartment contains, with buildings erected after June 30, 1941 required to have a water closet in every apartment of two or more rooms. Every bathroom or toilet room must also have adequate lighting and at least one of five specified forms of ventilation, ranging from qualifying windows to mechanical exhaust systems capable of at least four air changes per hour.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of Connecticut tenement houses should ensure their properties meet the water closet ratios and ventilation requirements set out in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-359, which vary depending on the building's construction date. Compliant operators generally confirm that each bathroom or toilet room has adequate lighting and at least one approved ventilation method—such as a properly sized window, vent shaft, flue, skylight, or mechanical exhaust system—meeting the dimensional minimums specified in the statute. Owners of buildings erected after August 31, 1930 should also verify that any vent shafts are constructed of fire-proof material and that no more than two water closets or bathrooms open onto a single shaft per floor.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-359 gives tenants in Connecticut tenement houses a right to properly equipped and ventilated bathroom facilities that meet the standards described in the statute. If a bathroom lacks adequate lighting, a compliant ventilation method, or the required water closet access, that condition may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards may consider documenting the conditions, raising the issue with their local housing or health authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about 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 September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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