Connecticut House Bill HB07046

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/17
• Refer: 2/9/17
• Report Pass: 3/3/17
• Refer: 3/13/17
• Report Pass: 3/20/17
• Engrossed: 5/9/17
• Report Pass: 5/11/17
• Chaptered: 6/20/17
• Enrolled: 6/26/17
• Passed: 7/10/17

Caption

An Act Concerning The Closure Of Certain Building Permits.

Impact

The legislation specifically amends Section 29-265 of the general statutes and seeks to provide legal clarity and closure for both municipalities and property owners. By establishing a clear timeframe for the expiration of building permits, it alleviates potential liabilities for municipalities and encourages individuals to either complete their construction projects or formally close their permits. This could lead to more organized records regarding permits and potentially pave the way for more efficient local government operations relating to construction and development.

Summary

House Bill 07046, titled 'An Act Concerning The Closure Of Certain Building Permits', was enacted to address the issue of long-standing open building permits for residential constructions. The key provision of this bill stipulates that any building permit related to the construction or alteration of structures like one-family and two-family dwellings will be deemed closed after a period of nine years if no certificate of occupancy has been issued. This is aimed at streamlining the management of permits and ensuring that municipalities are no longer burdened with indefinitely open permits that may no longer correspond with completed construction projects.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment around HB 07046 appears to be neutral to positive among legislators, as it simplifies regulatory burdens on municipalities while providing property owners with a definitive timeframe to address their permits. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, indicating broad support among lawmakers. This consensus suggests that the bill was well-received as a practical solution to a common issue faced at the local level.

Contention

While the bill seems beneficial for local government administration and property owners by removing the ambiguity around open permits, one notable point of contention could arise from the perspectives of property owners who may be adversely affected by the closure of permits for which they still intend to proceed. However, no explicit opposition was highlighted during the discussions around the bill. Thus, while the bill aims to solve a clear issue, one must consider how it might unwittingly impact certain stakeholders who are in various stages of their construction processes.