General Assembly Raised Bill No. 274 aims to strengthen the registration process for nonresident landlords and increase penalties for violations of building and fire codes. The bill repeals Section 47a-6a and introduces new definitions, including "Identifying information" and "Nonresident owner," which clarify the responsibilities of property owners who do not live at their rental properties. Municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more are required to mandate that nonresident owners report their current residential addresses and identifying information to the tax assessor. If they fail to comply, the municipality will use the address for property tax bills as the owner's current address. Additionally, the bill emphasizes landlords' obligations to maintain habitable conditions and comply with health and safety codes, with violations now punishable by fines rather than classified as infractions.

The legislation also modifies penalties for violations of the State Building Code and State Fire Prevention Code, establishing fines for first offenses ranging from $200 to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, while subsequent offenses will incur higher fines of at least $500 and up to $2,000. The bill repeals and substitutes several sections of the general statutes, including those related to compliance with building inspector orders, with similar penalties applied for noncompliance. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance landlord accountability and improve safety standards in rental properties through stricter penalties for repeated infractions.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-254a, 29-394