New Haven issues warning to force property owners to clean up or face fines

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - The City of New Haven issued a warning to homeowners saying they need to clean up rundown properties or face fines.

The city announced a new ordinance that will make the current fine for a blighted property ten times more expensive.

New Haven has been trying to fight blight for years.

The city said owners need to clean their property up or else they will face hefty fines for the state to do it.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker signed the new ordinance on Friday.

This raised the fines from $100 a day up to $1,000 a day.

The new law will also allow the city to send the fines to homeowners through first class mail rather than by certified mail.

According to the mayor’s office, it will help the city reach “absentee landlords” who only have a PO box.

Tracy Claxton from The City of New Haven’s Livable City Initiative inspected a home that has been sitting in poor condition for six years.

It was the Historic Walter Camp House which was destroyed in a fire in 2019.

“It’s very distressing. It’s on the main part of Chapel Street towards the hospital,” said Olivia Martsen, neighbor.

The building has different violations based on decay, graffiti, and overgrown vegetation.

This means the owners will face big fines if they don’t get it fixed within 10 days.

“To be clear our goal is not to fine people. we are not interested in making money off these things. We are not interested in penalizing people. We are interested in compliance. We are interested in people cleaning up the property and being respectful to the neighborhoods,” said Mayor Elicker.

The house has been racking up $100 fines everyday since May of 2024.

It totals about $45,000.

However, with the new ordinance, that would be $450,000.

Mayor Elicker said owing the city that much money could lead to foreclosure and seizure if it’s not paid.

“Blight just doesn’t hurt property values. It hurts communities. It discourages investment. and it undermines the pride that residents have in their neighborhoods,” said Liam Brennan, Executive Director, Livable City Initiative.

Neighbors said they just want these eye sores fixed up.

“It’s important for our neighborhood to be beautiful. To be safe. To be clean and to be livable,” a neighbor added.

To report blighted properties in the city, click HERE.