Hartford refused 25 condo short-term rentals — after the association's owners voted 88% to allow them
Hartford refused 25 condo short-term rentals — after the association's owners voted 88% to allow them
2026-09-09 · Connecticut · Compliance
The owners of a downtown Hartford condominium voted 88.72% to permit short-term rentals in their building. The city refused the permit 5-0. Hartford's Planning and Zoning Commission denied the special permit application for 25 short-term rental units at Bushnell on the Park on July 28, 2026.1
It is the cleanest Connecticut illustration this year of a point boards routinely get wrong: an association's own vote settles only half the question.
What was proposed
Bushnell Condos LLC, a subsidiary of a New York asset manager, bought 129 of the building's 180 units for $14.3 million in 2014. In June 2026 it applied for a special permit to operate 25 short-term rental units at 100 Wells Street.2
Crucially, the applicant attached association meeting minutes from January 28 recording an amendment permitting short-term rentals, carried with 88.72% in favour and 4.75% against.2
On the association's own terms, that is about as clear a mandate as a Connecticut community association can produce.
Why the city said no
Planning staff found the plan would remove units from the long-term housing stock, and that interspersing transient guests among permanent residents in shared common areas was incompatible with the zoning regulations and the city's Plan of Conservation and Development.1
The staff report also cited a November 2025 notice of violation for unpermitted short-term rentals already operating in 24 units, along with resident complaints about safety, sanitation and nuisance.
The president of the Bushnell Tower Condominium Association wrote in opposition, arguing the plan would turn part of the building into a hotel-like operation, increase security concerns and erode the residential community. The applicant argued vacancies justified the cash flow.1
Keep reading with the Connecticut State Pass
The rest of this analysis — what an association can actually do, the recent bills and rulings, and how Connecticut compares nationally — is for subscribers. $49/month for every Connecticut topic on HOA Weekly.
$49/month, $449/year, or a $19.99 day pass.
What you unlock
- The two-permission rule
- What makes this one instructive
- What this means for a Connecticut board
and 2 more sections in detail
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Recurring monthly subscription · Cancel anytime · Need help?
Related Connecticut HOA Topics
- Hartford denies plan for 25 short-term rental units at Bushnell on the Park, Hartford Business Journal (August 6, 2026) ↩
- Short-term rentals proposed for Bushnell on the Park in Hartford, CT Insider (June 10, 2026) — records the 88.72% association vote ↩
- Ronald J. Barba, on investor and short-term rental concentration and master policy cost, Common Interest, Vol. XXI Issue 4 (2026), CAI Connecticut chapter ↩
- SB 339 (2026), long-term rental of bedrooms in single-family homes — passed the Senate, died on the House calendar ↩
Stay on top of Connecticut HOA law
Every week: new Connecticut legislation, court rulings, and regulatory developments affecting condos, planned communities, and property managers. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.