OLR Report 2013-R-0422 analyzes municipal blight ordinances and compares how they define blight.
Municipalities derive their power to adopt blight ordinances from the municipal powers statutes. These statutes give municipalities the broad authority to protect, preserve, and promote public health, safety, and welfare. They also specifically authorize municipalities to make and enforce regulations for the prevention and remediation of housing blight (CGS § 7-148). Many municipalities have exercised this authority by passing blight ordinances.
The report reviewed over 30 such blight ordinances from a cross section of Connecticut municipalities and found that most have the same core provisions defining blight and establishing procedures for citing properties and appealing citations. Specifically, they contain provisions concerning:
1. purpose,
2. scope,
3. definitions,
4. property owner duties,
5. complaints and enforcement,
6. administrative procedures, and
7. remediation measures.
In addition, some ordinances, though not a majority, have provisions concerning (1) remediation incentives, (2) special assessments, or (3) hardship waivers.
Ordinances generally define the term “blighted premises,” not “blight,” and list conditions that constitute such a premises (e.g., broken windows or interference with neighbors' use of their property). Most ordinances define the term broadly and specify that the presence of just one of the many listed conditions constitutes a blighted premises.
For more information, read the full report.
