The challenge regarding what is the appropriate amount of penalties is a difficult one. “Lower” penalties may not provide the necessary push for compliance. “Higher” penalties can result in unintended consequences such as lawsuits, accusations of overreach, or owners just walking away and leaving the municipality “holding the bag”.
A recent article titled “Republicans, Democrats Split on Solutions for Blight” discuss the debate on Connecticut HB 6892 “An Act Concerning Municipal Blight Ordinances And The Fine For Littering”
Though the article was written 6//15/2023 and refences awaiting the Governor’s signature, it was in fact signed by the Governor on June 7th.
Per the Legislature’s summary, the bill
- Removes the municipal population threshold for certain parties to petition the Superior Court for the appointment of a receiver for a blighted and abandoned property
- Allows municipalities to enact blight ordinances concerning both residential and commercial real property
- Increases the permissible fines for blight ordinance violations
- Increases the fine for littering to five hundred dollars
- Reduces notice requirements to lienors when a municipality remediates certain code violations
- Removes certain blight violations from the infractions list.
To view the article, please click here.
To view the text of the bill, please click here.