Hartford building department

In Hartford, building permits come from the Licenses & Inspections (L&I) division of the Department of Development Services (DDS). L&I handles building and trade permits, construction plan review, inspections, unsafe structures and demolition, and housing code enforcement. DDS is at 260 Constitution Plaza, 1st floor, open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hartford handles more than 4,500 permit applications a year, according to the city’s owner’s guide.

Zoning comes first

Hartford requires all Planning & Zoning approvals before a building permit is issued. For most homeowner projects, that means filing a Planning & Zoning application first. This includes additions, decks, garages and sheds, pools and spas, and residential solar. After zoning approves it, apply to L&I with the plans zoning stamped as approved. Questions about which P&Z application you need go to [email protected] or (860) 757-9040. You can also book an appointment through the DDS online scheduler.

• Administrative zoning reviews for by-right uses take up to 35 days.
• Commission reviews for special permits, demolitions in historic districts, and variances need a public hearing, which must open within 65 days of a complete application.
• Incomplete applications are denied after 65 days without a response.
• Site plan review is triggered by accessory structures, solar panels, lot coverage increases over 5%, façade changes over 10%, new construction, and adding 5 or more parking spaces.

Check the city’s planning viewer to see whether your property is in a historic district. If it is, you’ll need historic review first.

Applying for a building or trade permit

Building and trade permits, Planning & Zoning applications, and business and rental licenses all go through the city’s Accela permitting portal. You’ll need an account before you can apply.

Have these ready to upload:

• Drawings and technical specifications
• A current workers’ compensation certificate naming the City of Hartford as certificate holder. Owners doing their own work use the city’s workers’ comp affidavit
• A current contractor’s license, and a contractor’s authorization letter if someone else is applying for the contractor
• A signed home improvement contract when an HIC is doing the work

L&I has up to 30 days to respond to a complete application. The city says permits are typically issued within the first two weeks. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work always need their own separate permits.

Drawing requirements by project

Project	What the city asks for
Addition	Site plan, 3 sets of drawings for zoning: foundation, framing sections, elevations, dimensioned floor plans with rooms labeled, stamped drawings for engineered parts. Then 2 zoning-approved sets to L&I
Alteration (kitchen/bath, finished basement or attic, dormers, wall removal, stairs, windows, roofing, siding)	Project description and 2 sets of drawings
Deck	Site plan and 3 sets of drawings showing footings, framing sections, elevations, and stair and handrail details
Garage or shed	Site plan and 3 sets of drawings with footings and hold-downs. Prefab structures need stamped engineered drawings. Sheds must be anchored and at least 3 ft from property lines
Pool or spa	Site plan and 3 sets of drawings showing the pool fencing or barrier
New residential	Full drawing set. A design professional’s stamp isn’t required unless the building is over 5,000 sq ft

Replacement windows must meet energy code and bedroom egress requirements. New siding may not go over rotted wood.

Homeowners and licensed trades

On a single-family, owner-occupied home, the homeowner may do their own electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling work. Any other property needs a Connecticut-licensed electrician (E-1), plumber (P-1), or mechanical contractor (S-1). An electrical service upgrade needs an Eversource Customer Request for Service (CRS) number. Service upgrades, solar PV, and EV chargers also need planning review. In-ground pools must be built by a licensed swimming pool builder (SP-1). Above-ground pools of 24 inches or deeper may be assembled by a registered HIC or the owner of a single-family home.

Hartford does not require a permit to remove a residential underground oil tank, but you must contact the Fire Marshal’s office at (860) 757-4530.

Work exempt from permits

The city’s owner’s guide follows the 2022 CT State Building Code. No building permit is needed for:

• One-story sheds and playhouses of 200 sq ft or less
• Fences up to 7 ft that aren’t pool barriers
• Retaining walls up to 3 ft without a surcharge
• Patios, walks, and driveways no more than 30 in. above grade that aren’t over a basement
• Finish work such as paint, flooring, cabinets, and countertops
• Above-ground prefab pools 24 in. deep or less and 5,000 gallons or less
• Window awnings that project 54 in. or less

Fees (schedule effective August 6, 2018)

Item	Fee
Building, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, sign, temporary structure	$50.26 for the first $1,000 of cost + $30.26 per additional $1,000
Demolition	$50 first $1,000 + $30 per additional $1,000
Certificate of Occupancy	$125
Certificate of Completion / Approval	$50
Temporary CO	$50 for one month; extensions $300 per month
Pre-application meeting	$200 first hour, then $50 per 15 minutes
Mandatory plan review (permits over $1 million)	10% of total projected cost, non-refundable
Zoning permit	$100
Zoning verification letter	$50 per parcel

Records, inspectors, and rentals

• The city’s GIS tools include a Building Permits Search, an Inspector Finder that shows the inspector assigned to an area, and a Past Applications viewer for scanned records.
• Certificate of Apartment Occupancy: L&I must issue a CAO before a covered unit is occupied. The fee is $25, and you apply in Accela. The inspection is scheduled within 10 days, and you have 45 days to fix any violations. CAOs aren’t required for buildings with two or fewer units, owner-occupied three-family homes, buildings built or substantially rebuilt in the last 10 years, or buildings with 10 or more units, which need a rental license instead.