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Development Services

Our department works toward growing a more sustainable economy and creating a more vibrant, livable Hartford for residents and visitors alike. Development Services is comprised of a number of divisions which:

Review plans, issue permits, and inspection projects in accordance with building codes and zoning regulations.
Issue business licenses and assist with small business development.
Respond to complaints regarding code violations.
Inspect, monitor, and cite vacant and/or dangerous buildings.
Help landlords and tenants understand their responsibilities and repair their properties.
Work with the public to plan and permit special events.
Initiate and manage the implementation of long term plans
Manage the disposition of City-owned property.

Please contact us with questions. We look forward to serving you.

Department Head

I. Charles Mathews, Director

I. Charles Mathews served as Deputy Mayor in the early 1990s. He has served in senior roles at Fortune 100 companies; is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; a former Board President of the Wilson Gray YMCA and the Hartford Stadium Authority. He received a bachelor’s degree with honor from Wesleyan University and a law degree from Cornell University.

Meet the Team

Aimee Chambers, AICP
Director of Planning

Planning & Zoning Division Staff Directory

Erin Howard.png
Erin Howard, AICP
Economic Development Director

Economic Development Division Staff Directory

Brian Mathews
Housing Director

Housing Division Staff Directory

Judith H. Rothschild, J.D.
Director of Blight Remediation & Housing Code Enforcement

Blight Remediation and Housing Code Enforcement Staff Directory

Dr. Elda Sinani, LL.M.
Director of Licenses & Inspections

L&I Division Staff Directory

Small Business & Community Development

Small Business Division Staff Directory

Our Divisions

Blight Remediation and Housing Code Enforcement

The Blight Remediation Team enforces the City’s Anti-Blight & Property Maintenance Ordinance by targeting occupied and vacant properties that have deteriorated or become nuisances. Housing Code Enforcement staff work to address concerns of upkeep and general maintenance that create hazards for occupants or for the public.

Economic Development

The Economic Development Division works to improve the City's business environment through tenant retention, site selection, lease/sale of City-owned properties and through the development of tax abatement incentives.

Housing Division

The Housing Division focuses on creating an environment conducive to the development and maintenance of affordable and market rate housing for current and future Hartford residents.

Licenses & Inspections

The Licenses & Inspections (L&I) Division's highest priority is to protect the health, welfare, and safety of Hartford's residents. L&I champions building safety through permitting and enforcing compliance with City codes.

Planning & Zoning

The Planning & Zoning Division utilizes best practices in urban design, data analysis, social impact, and community engagement to improve the built environment and enhance quality of life citywide.

Small Business & Community Development

The Small Business and Community Development Division creates and initiates community-based strategies to build strong neighborhoods, enhance economic opportunity for small business owners, and ensure a dynamic framework for community development.

Our Services

Apply for a Building and Trades Permit

Apply for a building, mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, or temporary structure permit here.

Apply for a Special Events Permit

Apply for a Special Events Permit.

Rent Hartford City Hall

Apply to rent the City Hall Atrium for your next event!

Elizabeth Park Wedding Ceremony or Pictures

Apply for a Special Events Permit to have a wedding ceremony or take pictures in Elizabeth Park.

Small Business Facade Improvement

This Small Business Façade program is usually a grant funded program targeted to small, for-profit businesses that are looking to increase business activity within their neighborhood, retain jobs, build capacity, and make their neighborhood more attractive for future investments.

Apply for a Demolition Permit

Apply to demolish a building or structure within the City of Hartford. To ensure safety, all demolition projects and project managers must adhere to the division's regulations regarding demolition procedures.

Apply for a Certificate of Apartment Occupancy

A Certificate of Apartment Occupancy (CAO) must be issued by the Director of Licenses and Inspections prior to an apartment or dwelling unit being occupied.

Apply to be a Temporary Merchandise Vendor

Apply to be a temporary merchandise vendor here.

Apply for Laundromat License

Apply to obtain a Laundromat License here.

Appeal a Blight Citation

An owner may appeal for relief of each citation issued pursuant to Hartford Municipal Code Section 9-94 to a citation hearing officer.

Apply for Weights and Measures Permit

Apply for a Weights and Measures Permit here. All registrations expire June 30th and must be renewed annually.

Submit a Plan Review Request

Within the Plan Review Application applicants can request a zoning permit, site plan review, special permit, zoning amendment, variances, and an Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Permit.

Apply for Final Site Approval

Apply for a Site Bond, Certificate of Compliance, and Bond Release/Reduction here.

Request Zoning Verification Letter

Request a Zoning Verification Letter here.

Apply for Historic Review

Historic review and approval is required before a building permit or demolition permit will be issued. This applies to any historic property and any property located in an historic district.

Register an Accessory Dwelling Unit

A property owner must file a zoning permit for an accessory dwelling unit prior to its recognition as an accessory dwelling unit

Starting a Business

Follow these steps to start a business in Hartford!

Purchase City-Owned Property

Apply to purchase city-owned property here. Please note that all applicants will be required to submit a complete Application Package.

Apply to be Mobile Vendor

Apply to be a mobile vendor here!

Commercial Parking Lot Application

Apply to establish a commercial parking lot here!

Apply to be a Pedal Cab Operator

Apply to be a pedal cab operator here.

Homebuyer Assistance

Find out how to apply for the HouseHartford Program. The program offers low and moderate income home buyers down payment assistance for the purchase of one- to four-family homes located in the City of Hartford.

Apply for a Home Improvement Loan

The Housing Preservation Loan Fund Program offers affordable loans to homeowners to make needed repairs and improvements to their properties located in the City of Hartford.

Apply for a Home Improvement Loan in the Promise Zone

The Sustainable Housing Solutions Program provides assistance to homeowners to make improvements to their 1-6 unit properties located in the City of Hartford’s federally designated Promise Zone.

Tax Abatement Application

A tax abatement agreement is a contract between the City of Hartford and the owner of a rental property that fixes taxes on an annual basis at a rate less than the full tax amount. Tax abatement can be used with residential properties that is occupied solely by low or moderate-income persons or families. The housing may be newly created, or existing.

HOME Application

The Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) supports the City's goal of fostering homeownership opportunities and the rehabilitation and construction of multi-family rental properties.

General Housing Inquiry Form

If you have a general inquiry regarding housing, please submit it here.

Submit a Planning Inquiry

Submit a general planning inquiry here.

File a Zoning Appeal

If you have received a denial, citation, or Notice of Violation and you would like to appeal click here.

Apply for a Liquor Permit

Apply for a Liquor Special Permit through the Planning Division here.

Apply for a Sign Permit

Apply for a Sign Permit here.

Apply for a Rental License

Apply for a Rental License for a building containing at least three (3) dwelling units here!

Hartford Emergency COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program

The Hartford Foundation For Public Giving, the City of Hartford, Capital for Change are working in collaboration to provide grant funding to help small businesses located within the City of Hartford that have experienced an adverse financial impact due to COVID-19.

Application opens on August 4th at 8am.
Application closes on August 25th at 5pm.
Award up to $7,500

Application for Parklets and Outdoor Dining

The City of Hartford is eager to support its small businesses with a new uniform and standardized process for outdoor dining in public spaces (parklets). Temporary emergency permits are also available for the 2022 calendar year.

Open RFPs/RFQs

The Department of Development Services presently has no open bids. Check out the PlanetBids Vendor Portal below for other City Bid opportunities.

In order to view bid opportunities with the City of Hartford you must be registered as a vendor in Planetbids. Please note, if you already have a vendor profile, log into your account by clicking on the PlanetBids Vendor Portal button, then select "Bid Opportunities".

PlanetBids Vendor Portal

Public Meetings and Information

REGULAR MEETINGS

Find our Meeting agendas, minutes, and updates at MeetingInfo.org. For specific commission pages, please see below:

Planning and Zoning Commission: https://www.meetinginfo.org/groups/30
Historic Preservation Commission: https://www.meetinginfo.org/groups/29
Zoning Board of Appeals: https://www.meetinginfo.org/groups/28
Complete Streets Taskforce: https://www.meetinginfo.org/groups/55

Social Media

Facebook: @DDSHartford
Instagram: @SafeStreetsHartford
Mailing List: Sign Up Form

Plan Your Next Special Event!

Contact Us

Phone

(860) 757-9040

Alternate Phone

8607579200

Fax

(860) 722-6074

Location

260 Constitution Plaza, 1st Fl

Hartford

06103

View Map

Hours

Sunday Closed
Monday
- 08:00 AM–05:00 PM
Tuesday
- 08:00 AM–05:00 PM
Wednesday
- 08:00 AM–05:00 PM
Thursday
- 08:00 AM–05:00 PM
Friday
- 08:00 AM–05:00 PM
Saturday Closed

Deputy Director

Randal P. Davis , Esq.

Plans and Permitting

Drop Off/Pick Up Permits and Plans

Check Permit Status

Important Links

Related City Services

Documents

On Social Media!

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn @DDShartford

Tweets by DDSHartford

Cooling Centers Open May 21st - May 22nd

Hartford to Host Tax Sale

Free Covid-19 At Home Test Kits at Hartford Public Library

Upcoming Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics

Development Services

Department Head

I. Charles Mathews, Director

Meet the Team

Our Divisions

Blight Remediation and Housing Code Enforcement

Economic Development

Housing Division

Licenses & Inspections

Planning & Zoning

Small Business & Community Development

Our Services

Apply for a Building and Trades Permit

Apply for a Special Events Permit

Rent Hartford City Hall

Elizabeth Park Wedding Ceremony or Pictures

Small Business Facade Improvement

Apply for a Demolition Permit

Apply for a Certificate of Apartment Occupancy

Apply to be a Temporary Merchandise Vendor

Apply for Laundromat License

Appeal a Blight Citation

Apply for Weights and Measures Permit

Submit a Plan Review Request

Apply for Final Site Approval

Request Zoning Verification Letter

Apply for Historic Review

Register an Accessory Dwelling Unit

Starting a Business

Purchase City-Owned Property

Apply to be Mobile Vendor

Commercial Parking Lot Application

Apply to be a Pedal Cab Operator

Homebuyer Assistance

Apply for a Home Improvement Loan

Apply for a Home Improvement Loan in the Promise Zone

Tax Abatement Application

HOME Application

General Housing Inquiry Form

Submit a Planning Inquiry

File a Zoning Appeal

Apply for a Liquor Permit

Apply for a Sign Permit

Apply for a Rental License

Hartford Emergency COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program

Application for Parklets and Outdoor Dining

Open RFPs/RFQs

Public Meetings and Information

REGULAR MEETINGS

Social Media

Plan Your Next Special Event!

Apply for a Special Events Permit

Elizabeth Park Wedding Ceremony or Pictures

Rent Hartford City Hall

Contact Us

Phone

Alternate Phone

Fax

Location

Hours

Deputy Director

Plans and Permitting

Important Links

On Social Media!