What my brush with Connecticut’s zoning laws taught me

What happens when five college friends share a house in Trumbull? EVICTION!! Well, that’s a bit dramatic, but I know what you’re thinking: “What the heck did these girls do to get evicted?”

And see… we didn’t do anything but sign a lease.

We were a week into our junior year, living off campus for the first time, and were getting back into a routine. However, our joy with our new living arrangement was shattered when we received a letter in late August. We notified our landlord about the letter we received in their name from the Zoning Board of Appeals and were told to open it.

The letter revealed that we violated two zoning laws in Trumbull , living in a single-family home occupied by three or more unrelated people and having more than four registered vehicles parked on a residential lot.

Being unaware of the consequences, our landlord needed us to move out within two weeks of the stamped letter date; if we failed to proceed, our landlord would receive a $150 fine daily. The chaos and uncertainty brought up the questions of where to search, and what our new reality might look like. As it turns out, due to the restrictive zoning laws in Trumbull, the only available nearby rentals were in Bridgeport.

My roommates and I had unknowingly stumbled into a zoning dispute, highlighting the injustices imposed by Trumbull’s regulations. The inability to access affordable housing in prosperous Connecticut towns like Trumbull is purposeful, leaving much of the state “segregated by design.” The fight for affordable housing in Connecticut is about more than the number of units available; it is about where those units are placed and the zoning regulations that govern those decisions. Zoning restrictions like the one that forced me out of Trumbull create invisible walls, exacerbating exclusion and inequality.

Zoning laws serve to control land development, uphold neighborhood norms and, perhaps unintentionally, deepen the housing affordability crisis in Connecticut. Such laws promote single-family homes with large lots, unfairly disadvantaging families with limited access to affordable housing, or single people like me who need to share housing. Expanding housing options to multi-family residences, duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units could reduce disparities and foster more inclusive communities .

It’s time to build a more equitable society where each town in Connecticut takes on its “ fair share ” of affordable housing and residents of various financial backgrounds can prosper together.

Due to the lack of affordable housing options and the restrictions imposed by Trumbull’s zoning laws, my roommates and I were forced five minutes down the block to rent over the town line in Bridgeport, where high-quality housing is frequently out of reach. We’re not the only ones who deal with this; the shortage of reasonably priced housing in Bridgeport feeds the cycle of instability and homelessness for a great number of people with even tighter budgets.

My experience and that of low-income renters in Bridgeport demonstrate the desperate need for rapid change. Legislators should prioritize equitable zoning reforms to ensure everyone can live in a safe and affordable home.

Not only do the restrictive zoning policies exacerbate the affordable housing crisis in southwest Connecticut, but Trumbull and similar towns also lose out on important opportunities because of these zoning restrictions. Due to its proximity to Sacred Heart University (SHU), Trumbull offers a unique opportunity to draw in investors who are interested in offering students affordable housing options. In addition to helping students, the development of inexpensive housing close to SHU would also boost the local economy. Younger residents in diverse areas inspire regional services, promote local businesses and job growth, and these areas generally have higher property values and economic pursuits.

This is a call for reform, and Trumbull should listen and make sure that its zoning laws reflect the values of inclusivity and justice. The t own’s implementation of a Fair Housing Policy, Sec. 10-19 , was a step in the right direction. The policy aims to eliminate housing discrimination based on protected characteristics like religion or race, promoting equity and inclusivity. Implementation and compliance are crucial for its effectiveness. However, to effectively tackle the injustices continued by Trumbull’s zoning regulations, we need to move past simple policy declarations and take proactive measures across the state.

For this reason, I am advocating for Fair Share Zoning for all of Connecticut. This would allow towns like Trumbull to develop a plan to promote affordable housing and increase diversity within its borders. We must create access to decent, safe, and affordable housing for all Connecticut residents.

Courtney Fling is a senior at Sacred Heart University, majoring in Health Science with minors in Chemistry, Psychology, and Nutrition.