Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a § 19a-365
(Formerly Sec. 19-374). Penalties.
Operative Text
Any owner or lessee of any building which was not used as a tenement house prior to April 24, 1913, who allows such building to be occupied or used as a tenement house without making such building conform in all respects with the requirements of this part, and any owner or lessee of land, and any builder or architect who authorizes, makes or approves any construction or alteration of any building or any reduction in court or yard spaces, in violation of the provisions of this part, shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both and, if any violation of any of said provisions remains uncorrected, the violator shall be subject to a renewal of the foregoing penalty every thirty days until the violation is corrected.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-365, Connecticut law imposes criminal and financial penalties on owners, lessees, builders, and architects who allow or facilitate the use of a building as a tenement house without meeting the applicable code requirements, or who carry out unauthorized construction, alterations, or reductions in court or yard spaces. Penalties range from a fine of $25 to $500, up to 30 days of imprisonment, or both. Crucially, if a violation goes uncorrected, the same penalties can be renewed every 30 days until the problem is resolved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-365 places responsibility on owners, lessees, builders, and architects to ensure that any building converted to or used as a tenement house fully complies with Connecticut's tenement-house requirements before occupancy. Compliant operators generally conduct thorough pre-occupancy inspections, obtain required approvals for any construction or alterations, and promptly address any identified deficiencies. Because penalties under this provision can reset every 30 days while a violation remains uncorrected, operators typically prioritize swift remediation and maintain documentation of corrective actions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-365 establishes that landlords, builders, and architects face escalating penalties when tenement-house buildings fail to meet Connecticut's housing standards—providing a legal framework that supports safe living conditions for occupants. Tenants who believe their building does not conform to tenement-house requirements may consider contacting their local housing or building code enforcement office to report the conditions. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can also help residents understand what options may be available, including how an ongoing violation under this provision might be relevant to other housing remedies.
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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