2013 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 29 - Public Safety and State Police
Chapter 541 - Building, Fire and Demolition Codes. Fire Marshals and Fire Hazards. Safety of Public and Other Structures
Section 29-252a - Code applicable to all state agencies and Connecticut Airport Authority. Building permit, education fee and certificate of occupancy required for state and Connecticut Airport Authority buildings. Appeal. Exemptions.

(a) The State Building Code, including any amendment to said code adopted by the State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, shall be the building code for all state agencies and the Connecticut Airport Authority.

(b) (1) No state or Connecticut Airport Authority building or structure or addition to a state or Connecticut Airport Authority building or structure: (A) That exceeds the threshold limits contained in section 29-276b and requires an independent structural review under said section, or (B) that includes residential occupancies for twenty-five or more persons, shall be constructed until an application has been filed by (i) the commissioner of an agency authorized to contract for the construction of buildings under the provisions of section 4b-1 or 4b-51, or (ii) the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, with the State Building Inspector and a building permit is issued by the State Building Inspector. Two copies of the plans and specifications for the building, structure or addition to be constructed shall accompany the application. The commissioner of any such agency or the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority shall certify that such plans and specifications are in substantial compliance with the provisions of the State Building Code and, where applicable, with the provisions of the Fire Safety Code. The State Building Inspector shall review the plans and specifications for the building, structure or addition to be constructed to verify their compliance with the requirements of the State Building Code and, not later than thirty days after the date of application, shall issue or refuse to issue the building permit, in whole or in part. The State Building Inspector may request that the State Fire Marshal review such plans to verify their compliance with the Fire Safety Code.

(2) On and after July 1, 1999, the State Building Inspector shall assess an education fee on each building permit application. During the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1999, the amount of such fee shall be sixteen cents per one thousand dollars of construction value as declared on the building permit application, and the State Building Inspector shall remit such fees, quarterly, to the Department of Administrative Services, for deposit in the General Fund. Upon deposit in the General Fund, the amount of such fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Administrative Services and shall be used for the code training and educational programs established pursuant to section 29-251c. On and after July 1, 2000, the assessment shall be made in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-251c.

(c) All state agencies authorized to contract for the construction of any buildings or the alteration of any existing buildings under the provisions of section 4b-1 or 4b-51 or, for any such Connecticut Airport Authority building, the Connecticut Airport Authority, shall be responsible for substantial compliance with the provisions of the State Building Code, the Fire Safety Code and the regulations lawfully adopted under said codes for such building or alteration to such building, as the case may be. Such agencies and the Connecticut Airport Authority shall apply to the State Building Inspector for a certificate of occupancy for all buildings or alterations of existing buildings for which a building permit is required under subsection (b) of this section and shall certify compliance with the State Building Code, the Fire Safety Code and the regulations lawfully adopted under said codes for such building or alteration to such building, as the case may be, to the State Building Inspector prior to occupancy or use of the facility.

(d) (1) No state or Connecticut Airport Authority building or structure erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989, for which a building permit has been issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall be occupied or used in whole or in part, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the State Building Inspector, certifying that such building or structure substantially conforms to the provisions of the State Building Code and the regulations lawfully adopted under said code and the State Fire Marshal has verified substantial compliance with the Fire Safety Code and the regulations lawfully adopted under said code for such building or alteration to such building, as the case may be.

(2) No state or Connecticut Airport Authority building or structure erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989, for which a building permit has not been issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be occupied or used in whole or in part, until the commissioner of the agency erecting or altering the building or structure or, for any Connecticut Airport Authority building or structure, the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, certifies to the State Building Inspector that the building or structure substantially complies with the provisions of the State Building Code, the Fire Safety Code and the regulations lawfully adopted under said codes for such building or alteration to such building, as the case may be.

(e) The State Building Inspector or said inspector’s designee may inspect or cause to be inspected any construction of buildings or alteration of existing buildings by state agencies or the Connecticut Airport Authority, except that said inspector or designee shall inspect or cause an inspection if the building being constructed includes residential occupancies for twenty-five or more persons. The State Building Inspector may order any state agency or the Connecticut Airport Authority to comply with the State Building Code. The commissioner may delegate such powers as the commissioner deems expedient for the proper administration of this part and any other statute related to the State Building Code to The University of Connecticut, provided the commissioner and the president of The University of Connecticut enter into a memorandum of understanding concerning such delegation of powers in accordance with section 10a-109ff.

(f) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Administrative Services may annually review the implementation date in subsection (b) of this section to determine the need, if any, for revision.

(g) Any person aggrieved by any refusal to issue a building permit or certificate of occupancy under the provisions of this section or by an order to comply with the State Building Code or the Fire Safety Code may appeal, de novo, to the Codes and Standards Committee not later than seven days after the issuance of any such refusal or order.

(h) State agencies and the Connecticut Airport Authority shall be exempt from the permit requirements of section 29-263 and the certificate of occupancy requirement under section 29-265.

(P.A. 85-195, S. 1; P.A. 88-359, S. 2, 12; P.A. 89-255, S. 2, 7; P.A. 90-153, S. 1, 4; P.A. 91-84, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-55; P.A. 93-200, S. 1, 2; 93-288, S. 5, 7; P.A. 95-157, S. 1, 2; P.A. 97-273, S. 1, 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11, S. 29, 65; P.A. 98-233, S. 3, 8; 98-263, S. 5, 21; P.A. 99-206, S. 1, 4; 99-209, S. 2, 4; P.A. 04-150, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 110; P.A. 06-134, S. 11; P.A. 11-8, S. 14–16; 11-51, S. 90; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; 13-277, S. 15.)

History: P.A. 88-359 inserted new provisions in Subsec. (b), prohibiting construction or alteration of state buildings or structures on and after July 1, 1989, until state building inspector issues building permit, requiring public works commissioner to certify that plans comply with codes and state building inspector to review plans to verify compliance with building code, relettered remaining Subsecs., inserting in Subsec. (c) requirement that agencies apply to state building inspector for a certificate of occupancy, inserted new provisions in Subsec. (d), requiring certificate of occupancy for state buildings or structures erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989, amended Subsec. (e), formerly (c), to require state building inspector to inspect construction or alteration of buildings by state agencies and amended Subsec. (f), formerly (d), to delete reference to any person aggrieved by “a certificate of compliance” and insert in lieu thereof reference to “any refusal to issue a building permit or certificate of occupancy under the provisions of this section”; P.A. 89-255 amended Subsec. (b) to require two copies of plans and specifications to accompany application, Subsec. (c) to require state agencies to give written notice to state building inspector of intent to apply for certificate of occupancy prior to advertisement for a construction contract and Subsec. (e) to permit state building inspector to appoint a designee to inspect or cause to be inspected any construction or alteration of buildings by state agencies; P.A. 90-153 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that no state building or structure that exceeds threshold limits in Sec. 29-276b and on and after July 1, 1991, no other such building or structure shall be constructed or altered until filing of application by commissioner of agency authorized to contract under provisions of Sec. 4b-1 or 4b-51, and to specify that state building inspector may issue or refuse to issue building permit “in whole or in part” after his review, amended Subsec. (c) to delete requirement that agencies give written notice to state building inspector of intent to apply for certificate of occupancy prior to advertisement for construction contract and to require agencies to apply to state building inspector for certificate of occupancy for all buildings or alterations for which a building permit is required under Subsec. (b) and inserted new Subsec. (f) re review of implementation date in Subsec. (b), relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 91-84 amended Subsec. (b) to delay, from July 1, 1991, to July 1, 1993, requirement for building permit for construction or alteration of a nonthreshold state building; P.A. 92-55 divided Subsec. (d) into two Subdivs., placing existing language in Subdiv. (1) and amending same by limiting applicability of provisions concerning the issuance of certificate of occupancy to buildings or structures “for which a building permit has been issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section”, and adding new language as Subdiv. (2) prohibiting use of certain state buildings or structures erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989, until commissioner of agency erecting or altering the building or structure certifies to state building inspector that same substantially complies with state building code; P.A. 93-200 amended Subsec. (b) to delay, from July 1, 1993, to July 1, 1995, requirement for building permit for construction or alteration of a nonthreshold state building, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-288 amended Subsec. (b) requiring the commissioner of contracting agency to include on contractors’ and subcontractors’ applications Connecticut tax registration numbers and federal Social Security number or federal identification number and requiring state building inspector to furnish application copies to revenue services commissioner, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-157 amended Subsec. (b) to delay, from July 1, 1995, to July 1, 1997, requirement for building permit for construction or alteration of a nonthreshold state building, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-273 amended Subsec. (c) to require state agencies that contract to construct or alter state buildings for which a building permit is required to be responsible for and certify compliance with Fire Safety Code, amended Subsec. (d)(1) to require that State Fire Marshal verify substantial compliance with Fire Safety Code prior to use of state buildings or structures erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989 for which a building permit has been issued, and amended Subsec. (d)(2) to require that commissioner of agency erecting or altering state buildings or structures erected or altered on and after July 1, 1989 for which a building permit has not been issued certify to State Building Inspector that same substantially complies with Fire Safety Code prior to use, and amended Subsec. (g) by authorizing state agencies to appeal Fire Safety Code compliance orders to Codes and Standards Committee and by making a technical change, effective June 26, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11 amended Subsec. (b) by changing scope and timing of certain permit requirements and repealing provisions re reporting of contractor and subcontractor tax registration, Social Security and federal employer identification numbers, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-233 amended Subsec. (b) to add assessment of education fees, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 98-263 amended Subsec. (b) to delay, from July 1, 1999, to July 1, 2000, requirement for building permit for construction, alteration or addition to a state building or structure, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-206 divided Subsec. (b) into Subdivs. (1) and (2), deleted requirement from Subdiv. (1) that no state building or structure or addition thereto be constructed or altered until an application has been filed with the State Building Inspector and building permit issued, moved provision that said inspector may request the State Fire Marshal to review plans to verify their compliance with the State Fire Safety Code from end of section and made technical changes for consistency and clarity, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-209 divided Subsec. (b) into Subdivs. (1) and (2) and added requirement to Subdiv. (2) that the education fees deposited in the General Fund be credited to the Department of Public Safety for code training and educational programs, and moved provision that the State Building Inspector may request the State Fire Marshal to review plans to verify their compliance with the State Fire Safety Code from the end of Subdiv. (2) to the end of Subdiv. (1), effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 04-150 amended Subsec. (e) to make a technical change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to insert Subpara. (A) designator before existing provision re exceeding threshold limits contained in Sec. 29-276b and requiring independent structural review and to insert Subpara. (B) designator and “that includes residential occupancies for twenty-five or more persons,”, to delete references to “or altered” and to make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (e) to substitute “may” for “shall” re inspection of any construction or alteration and to add exception from inspection provision, requiring inspector or designee to inspect or cause inspection if building being constructed includes residential occupancies for twenty-five or more persons, and to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-134 amended Subsec. (e) by adding language re delegation of powers to The University of Connecticut and memorandum of understanding, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 11-8 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b)(1), (c), (d) and (g), effective May 24, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Construction Services” in Subsecs. (b)(2) and (f), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Department of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Administrative Services” in Subsecs. (b)(2) and (f), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-277 added references to Connecticut Airport Authority and executive director of Connecticut Airport Authority and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2013.