(a) The State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, jointly, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services and in accordance with the provisions of section 29-252b, adopt and administer a State Building Code based on a nationally recognized model building code for the purpose of regulating the design, construction and use of buildings or structures to be erected and the alteration of buildings or structures already erected and make such amendments thereto as they, from time to time, deem necessary or desirable. Such amendments shall be limited to administrative matters, geotechnical and weather-related portions of said code, amendments to said code necessitated by a provision of the general statutes and any other matter which, based on substantial evidence, necessitates an amendment to said code. The code shall be revised as deemed necessary to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the code not later than eighteen months following the date of first publication of such subsequent revisions to the code. The purpose of said Building Code shall also include, but not be limited to, promoting and ensuring that such buildings and structures are designed and constructed in such a manner as to conserve energy and, wherever practicable, facilitate the use of renewable energy resources, including provisions for electric circuits capable of supporting electric vehicle charging in any newly constructed residential garage in any code adopted after July 8, 2013. Said Building Code includes any code, rule or regulation incorporated therein by reference. As used in this subsection, “geotechnical” means any geological condition, such as soil and subsurface soil condition, which may affect the structural characteristics of a building or structure.
(b) The State Building Inspector shall be appointed by the Governor. He shall be an architect or professional engineer licensed by the state of Connecticut, shall have a thorough knowledge of building code administration and enforcement and shall have had not less than ten years practical experience in his profession.
(c) The State Building Inspector or his designee may issue official interpretations of the State Building Code, including interpretations of the applicability of any provision of the code, upon the request of any person. The State Building Inspector shall compile and index each interpretation and shall publish such interpretations at periodic intervals not exceeding four months.
(d) The State Building Inspector or his designee shall review a decision by a local building official or a board of appeals appointed pursuant to section 29-266 when he has reason to believe that such official or board has misconstrued or misinterpreted any provision of the State Building Code. If, upon review and after consultation with such official or board, he determines that a provision of the code has been misconstrued or misinterpreted, he shall issue an interpretation of said code and may issue any order he deems appropriate. Any such determination or order shall be in writing and be sent to such local building official or board by registered mail, return receipt requested. Any person aggrieved by any determination or order by the State Building Inspector under this subsection may appeal to the Codes and Standards Committee within fourteen days after mailing of the decision or order. Any person aggrieved by any ruling of the Codes and Standards Committee may appeal in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 29-266.
(1949 Rev., S. 4106; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 87; 1961, P.A. 287; 1967, P.A. 349, S. 1; 845; 1969, P.A. 443, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 495, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 16, 136; P.A. 79-311; P.A. 82-432, S. 2, 19; P.A. 88-359, S. 1, 12; P.A. 89-255, S. 1, 7; P.A. 97-308, S. 5; P.A. 04-59, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 90; P.A. 12-204, S. 4; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; 13-298, S. 45; P.A. 16-193, S. 10; 16-215, S. 5.)
History: 1961 act provided for automatic application of amendments to municipalities; 1967 acts provided for a state building inspector as the agent for purposes of the section instead of the public works commissioner and stated that adoption of code includes adoption of “code, rule or regulation incorporated therein by reference”; 1969 act included state building code standards committee, deleted provisions re adoption of code and amendments by ordinance by towns, cities or boroughs and rephrased statement re adoption of code, rule or regulation referred to in state building code; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner and department with department and commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 replaced public works commissioner and department with administrative services commissioner and department for period between June 6, 1978 and January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-311 provided that code promote and ensure design and construction of energy-conserving buildings and the use of renewable resources; P.A. 82-432 replaced state building code standards committee with codes and standards committee; Sec. 19-395 transferred to Sec. 29-252 in 1983; P.A. 88-359 designated existing section as Subsec. (a), amending same to require revision of code not later than July 1, 1989, to incorporate necessary 1988 B.O.C.A. revisions and not more than every four years thereafter to incorporate later revisions and to make necessary technical changes, and added Subsec. (b) re appointment and qualification of state building inspector, Subsec. (c) authorizing state building inspector or his designee to issue official interpretations of the code upon request and requiring the compiling, indexing and publishing of interpretations, and Subsec. (d) requiring state building inspector or his designee to review interpretations of code by a local building official or board of appeals when he believes code has been misconstrued or misinterpreted, and to issue interpretations of code and any appropriate order, providing a procedure for appeals; P.A. 89-255 amended Subsec. (c) to eliminate requirement of approval of the codes and standards committee for issuance of official interpretations of the state building code and amended Subsec. (d) to require state building inspector to review a decision by local building official or board of appeals, eliminating reference to review of interpretations of state building code and making technical changes as necessary; P.A. 97-308 amended Subsec. (a) to define “geotechnical”, to insert limitation for amendments made to code and to require revision of code not later than July 1, 1998, to incorporate necessary 1996 revisions by B.O.C.A., removing requirement that revisions also be incorporated not more than every four years thereafter and adding new alternative re revisions adopted by I.C.C. and a deadline for incorporating revisions; P.A. 04-59 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that code be based on a nationally recognized model building code and be revised not later than January 1, 2005, and thereafter as deemed necessary to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the code, to delete “July 1, 1998, to incorporate such revisions adopted by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. in 1996 as they deem necessary” and provision re necessary revisions adopted by said organization or by the International Code Council, Inc., and to make a technical change, effective May 10, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Construction Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-204 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2012; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-298 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re renewable energy resources to include provisions for electric circuits capable of supporting electric vehicle charging and to make a technical change, effective July 8, 2013; P.A. 16-193 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change; P.A. 16-215 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to Sec. 29-252b and to delete “not later than January 1, 2005, and thereafter”, effective May 31, 2016.
Annotation to former section 19-395:
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 515.
Annotation to present section:
Cited. 211 C. 690.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 29 - Public Safety and State Police
Section 29-250. - Office of the State Fire Marshal. Office of the State Building Inspector.
Section 29-251. (Formerly Sec. 19-395f). - Codes and Standards Committee; duties; membership.
Section 29-251a. - Review of regulations.
Section 29-251b. - Building Code Training Council; membership; vacancies.
Section 29-252b. - Procedure for adoption and amendment of State Building Code.
Section 29-254. (Formerly Sec. 19-395g). - Amendments to code. Variations and exemptions.
Section 29-254a. - Penalty for violation of State Building Code.
Section 29-255. (Formerly Sec. 19-395h). - Authority of fire marshals unaffected.
Section 29-256b. - Revision of code. Use of ungraded lumber.
Section 29-256c. - Revision of code. Bed and breakfast establishments.
Section 29-256d. - Revision of code. Path marking systems.
Section 29-257. (Formerly Sec. 19-395r). - Scope of revision.
Section 29-258. (Formerly Sec. 19-395s). - Educational program.
Section 29-262a. - Uniform building permit application form.
Section 29-263a. - Working drawings to be accompanied by evidence of licensure by the state.
Section 29-265. (Formerly Sec. 19-400). - Certificate of occupancy.
Section 29-265a. - Permits for swimming pools.
Section 29-265b. - Rain sensor devices for automatic lawn sprinkler systems.
Section 29-265g. - Prohibition on reuse of recycled material known to contain pyrrhotite. Penalty.
Section 29-268. (Formerly Sec. 19-398c). - Two exits required for sleeping rooms.
Section 29-269b. - Symbol of access. Regulations.
Section 29-269c. - Use of symbol of access.
Section 29-270. (Formerly Sec. 19-395o). - Posting of access symbols.
Section 29-272. (Formerly Sec. 19-396a). - Definitions.
Section 29-274. (Formerly Sec. 19-396c). - Exemptions from State Building Code standards.
Section 29-276a. - Moratorium on “lift-slab” construction. Regulations.
Section 29-282. (Formerly Sec. 19-403). - Public service company exceptions.
Section 29-291e. - Procedure for adoption and amendment of State Fire Prevention Code.
Section 29-292a. - Procedure for adoption and amendment of Fire Safety Code.
Section 29-294. (Formerly Sec. 29-42). - Publication of code.
Section 29-295. (Formerly Sec. 29-43). - Penalty for violation of code.
Section 29-296a. - Fire Safety Code: Variations, exemptions, equivalent or alternate compliance.
Section 29-298a. - Fire Marshal Training Council established. Duties. Members.
Section 29-299. (Formerly Sec. 29-46). - Dismissal of local fire marshal.
Section 29-300. (Formerly Sec. 29-47). - Hearing prior to dismissal. Appeal.
Section 29-301. (Formerly Sec. 29-48). - One fire marshal for several municipalities.
Section 29-302. (Formerly Sec. 29-49). - Investigations.
Section 29-303. (Formerly Sec. 29-50). - Reporting of fire emergencies.
Section 29-304. (Formerly Sec. 29-51). - Fee for investigations.
Section 29-307. (Formerly Sec. 29-54a). - Fire hazards in manufacturing establishments.
Section 29-307b. - Notice to water companies of the presence or elimination of hazardous material.
Section 29-309. (Formerly Sec. 29-56). - Procedure for appeal.
Section 29-311. - Fire investigations. Warrant requirements. Reports to Insurance Commissioner.
Section 29-312. (Formerly Sec. 29-58). - Deputy State Fire Marshal.
Section 29-313. (Formerly Sec. 29-44a). - Fire extinguishers.
Section 29-315. (Formerly Sec. 29-44c). - Fire extinguishing system required for certain buildings.
Section 29-316. (Formerly Sec. 29-59). - Regulation of fuel oil burners.
Section 29-318. (Formerly Sec. 29-60a). - Space heaters prohibited.
Section 29-318a. - Sale of unvented fuel-burning room heaters.
Section 29-318b. - Use of unvented fuel-burning room heaters in multiple-family dwellings. Notice.
Section 29-318c. - Warning label. Regulations.
Section 29-319. (Formerly Sec. 29-61). - Fuel emergency.
Section 29-320. (Formerly Sec. 29-62). - Regulations concerning flammable or combustible liquids.
Section 29-321. (Formerly Sec. 29-63). - Variations or exemptions.
Section 29-323. (Formerly Sec. 29-65). - Appeal.
Section 29-324. (Formerly Sec. 29-66). - Penalty.
Section 29-330. (Formerly Sec. 29-71). - Definitions.
Section 29-335a. - Transportation and handling of propane gas. Definitions. Penalty.
Section 29-336. (Formerly Sec. 29-77). - Hazardous chemicals. Definitions.
Section 29-337. (Formerly Sec. 29-78). - Regulations concerning hazardous chemicals.
Section 29-338. (Formerly Sec. 29-79). - Variations or exemptions.
Section 29-340 and 29-341. (Formerly Secs. 29-81 and 29-82). - Appeals. Penalty.
Section 29-342. (Formerly Sec. 29-82a). - Transportation plan.
Section 29-343. (Formerly Sec. 29-83). - Explosives. Definition.
Section 29-344. (Formerly Sec. 29-84). - Report to Commissioner.
Section 29-347. (Formerly Sec. 29-87). - Penalty.
Section 29-348. (Formerly Sec. 29-88). - Illegal possession.
Section 29-350. (Formerly Sec. 29-89a). - Exceptions.
Section 29-351. (Formerly Sec. 29-90). - Transportation of explosives by common carrier.
Section 29-353. (Formerly Sec. 29-93). - Explosive compounds to be marked.
Section 29-354. (Formerly Sec. 29-94). - Gunpowder may be ordered removed.
Section 29-355a. - Purchase by and sale to minors of black powder or other explosives, prohibited.
Section 29-356. (Formerly Sec. 29-96). - Definitions.
Section 29-358. (Formerly Sec. 29-98). - Bond.
Section 29-360. (Formerly Sec. 29-100). - Permit for nonresident.
Section 29-361. (Formerly Sec. 29-101). - Exceptions.
Section 29-362. (Formerly Sec. 29-102). - Seizure and destruction of fireworks.
Section 29-363. (Formerly Sec. 29-103). - Expense of transportation and storage of seized fireworks.
Section 29-364. (Formerly Sec. 29-104). - Licenses. Denial, suspension or revocation.
Section 29-365. (Formerly Sec. 29-105). - License fees.
Section 29-366. (Formerly Sec. 29-106). - Penalty.
Section 29-367. (Formerly Sec. 29-106q). - Regulation of rockets.
Section 29-368. (Formerly Sec. 29-106r). - Variations and exemptions.
Section 29-369. (Formerly Sec. 29-106s). - Appeal.
Section 29-370. (Formerly Sec. 29-106t). - Penalty.
Section 29-371. - Counterfeit and unsafe lighters. Sales prohibited. Exceptions. Civil action.
Section 29-389. (Formerly Sec. 19-386). - Stairways and fire escapes on certain buildings.
Section 29-392. (Formerly Sec. 19-390). - Fire Safety Code. New construction to conform.
Section 29-393. (Formerly Sec. 19-391). - Building inspectors; duties, right of entry.
Section 29-394. (Formerly Sec. 19-392). - Penalty.
Section 29-395. (Formerly Sec. 19-394f). - Penalty.
Section 29-401. (Formerly Sec. 19-403b). - Regulations.
Section 29-403. (Formerly Sec. 19-403d). - Appeal from decision of department.
Section 29-405. (Formerly Sec. 19-403f). - Appeal from decision of local building official.
Section 29-407. (Formerly Sec. 19-403h). - Notice to adjoining property owners.
Section 29-408. (Formerly Sec. 19-403i). - Safety measures to be provided. Fence.
Section 29-409. (Formerly Sec. 19-403j). - Sidewalk shed requirements.
Section 29-410. (Formerly Sec. 19-403k). - Excavation of sidewalk area.
Section 29-411. (Formerly Sec. 19-403l). - Restrictions on demolition procedures.
Section 29-412. (Formerly Sec. 19-403m). - Accumulated materials.
Section 29-413. (Formerly Sec. 19-403n). - Basements and cellars.
Section 29-414. (Formerly Sec. 19-403o). - Penalty.
Section 29-415. (Formerly Sec. 19-403p). - Public service company exceptions.
Section 29-416. - Definitions.
Section 29-417. - Sale of cigarettes; requirements. Revocation or suspension of license. Exceptions.
Section 29-419. - Certification. Fee. Retesting required for modified cigarettes.
Section 29-420. - Connecticut Fire-Safe Cigarette Directory. Appeal. Civil action.
Section 29-421. - Fire standards compliant marking required for sale of cigarettes.
Section 29-422. - Implementation in accordance with New York law. Regulations.
Section 29-423. - Fire safety standard and firefighter protection act enforcement account.