CT Recovers is a State of CT site that is updated regularly with CT centered useful information regarding disaster preparedness, response and recovery:  http://www.ct.gov/ctrecovers/site/default.asp

This Facebook page provides pertinent weather and emergency alerts as well as general information regarding the Town of Berlin

On September 10, 1937, the Town of Berlin formed a Police Bureau which was supervised by four elected Constables. The Police Bureau was the town's only form of police protection until April 13, 1955.


On that date, House Bill No. 1932 was passed by the Connecticut Legislature which established the Board of Police Commissioners of the Town of Berlin and authorized the organization and maintenance of a police department.

During that year the Board of Police Commissioners purchased a two-way radio system which was set up and operated on a round-the- clock basis.

The Board also purchased a new police cruiser -- the first in the town's history -- and established that the authority of the constables would be terminated on August 31, 1956.

Click to Find Your Polling Location  

ABSENTEE BALLOT: Click Here for Absentee Ballot Process Information

Connecticut law allows you to receive an absentee ballot if, in your judgement, an absence from your town on Election Day prevents you from appearing at your polling place, or you are prevented from appearing at your assigned polling place on Election Day due to sickness or physical disability (not necessarily your sickness or disability), active service in the Military, religious tenets forbid secular activity on the day of the election, duties as an election official at a polling place other than  your own during all hours of voting.

First, an application must be completed by the person requesting an absentee ballot.  Once the application is received by the Town Clerk's office, a ballot will be mailed to you.  Please note that ballots CANNOT be given to anyone other than the requestor.  

• Application for Absentee Ballot – complete and print an APPLICATION from the Secretary of State's website, sign with a wet signature and MAIL to our office: Berlin Town Clerk, 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT  06037

• Connecticut Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal - the Secretary of State's office has developed this online portal which allows you to request your BALLOT online.  The Town Clerk's office will be notified of requests and ballots will be mailed out within 24 hours.

Permanent Absentee Ballot 

If you have a disability that prevents you from voting in person, and you obtain a letter from your physician stating this, you may be eligible for a Permanent Absentee Ballot.  For more information, please call the Town Clerk's office at 860-828-7036.

General Election Information

• Register to Vote Online - Connecticut Secretary of State's online registration system.
• Secretary of the State - Election Information
• Click For Statewide Election Results via the Secretary of State's Website
• Board of Education members placement after Election - memorandum of understanding 

For more information on Elections, please visit the Registrar of Voter's page.

Absentee ballot applications are available in the Town Clerk's Office. These are available for those persons who will not be able to get to the polls in person for the following reasons: military, absence from town, illness, physical disability, religious beliefs, and poll workers. An application must be filled out before a ballot may be issued.

Absentee Ballot Application

• Medicare 
• Medicaid/CCCI 
• Aetna 
• Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield 
• Cigna 
• Oxford 
• United Healthcare 
• Wellcare 
• Private Pay

If your insurance company is not listed, please call us at 860-828-7030 to see if we can obtain authorization to care for you.

You can find all of our animals on Petfinder.com:  Nearby Dogs  |  Nearby Cats 

We show animals by appointment only. Please call 860-828-5287.

Our Adoption Process

• Click Here for The Online Adoption Form

You can meet dogs available for adoption by appointment only by calling the shelter at 860-828-7055.

Most of our cats and kittens are in foster homes. We are able to meet almost anytime. We also hold adoption events at the PETSMART in Berlin, which is located at 267 Berlin Turnpike.

Prospective individuals or families must meet requirements set by our group. There is a contract to sign. There is a fee for animals that are in our foster care program. Cats over six months of age are usually spayed or neutered. Sometimes a cat at the shelter might not be spayed or neutered because of availability at the Vet clinic. In that case, the cat will go through the State voucher program instead. Our adoption counselor will let you know if this applies. Our cats/kittens are tested, vaccinated and de-wormed. You are required to spay/neuter by six months of age. (You can do this through your own vet or through low cost clinic.) Thank you!

Our dogs are vaccinated, heartworm tested and de-wormed prior to adoption.

Dogs are adopted through the State Voucher program if not fixed.

The Town of Berlin Animal Control Shelter is lucky to have a NO KILL, non-profit rescue group dedicated to helping the municipal shelter called, “The Friends of Berlin Animal Control (FOBAC)”.  They spay/neuter the animals at the shelter, provide medical assistance, publicity, foster homes and adoption events in order to give animals at the municipal shelter the same opportunity as animals in private shelters. They fund the Central CT Cat Project; a low cost spay/neuter program primarily for feral cats and rescuers, but open to everyone.  They also started the Pet Food Pantry to help people keep their pets in economic hardship. They are currently in need of sponsors for the Pet Food Pantry and foster homes. Thank you!  

The Town of Berlin is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Please click on one of the links below to view the Town's Affirmative Action documentation:

• 2016 Affirmative Action Policy Statement
  
  
• 2016 Affirmative Action Plan

From vacant land to ready-to-occupy office space, Berlin offers great property options for a wide variety of firms.

Visit the CERC SiteFinder^TM web site for a list of available property sites in Berlin.

• Click here for a list of available buildings in Berlin.

Our Vacant Land Map is regularly updated. These Berlin properties are vacant, but not necessarily available.

Click to View Current Regulations

Click to View Current Application Forms

The Town of Berlin is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Minority/Women's Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply.

See the list below to find information on current, closed, and awarded bids and RFPs:

• Current Bids and RFPs
• Closed Bids, Bid Lists, RFPs
• Awarded Bids and RFPs

Fiscal Year 2025 Town of Berlin Budget

The fiscal year 2025 budget was adopted at a joint meeting of the Town of Council and Board of Finance on June 10, 2024. 

The mil rate was set by the Board of Finance at 30.21 for fiscal year 2025. 

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FY25 Budget Dashboard (6-10-2024)

FY25 Detailed General Fund Budget Submission (6-10-2024)

FY25 Berlin Water Control Budget Submission (3-26-2024)

FY25 Annual Budget Hearing Presentation (3-26-2024)

Board of Education FY25 Budget Presentation to the Board of Finance (3-6-2024)

Town Manager's Budget Presentation to the Board of Finance (3-4-2024)

FY25 Town Manager's Budget Document (3-1-2024)

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NEW PROCESS OVERVIEW 

Summary of Public Act 24-111

PA 24-111 establishes a new process for trade names effective January 1, 2025. The Act clarifies who can file a trade name and breaks the filers into 3 groups:

1. One natural person (e.g., a sole proprietorship);
2. Two or more natural persons (e.g., an unincorporated association); and
3. A business organization (e.g., a corporation, non-profit corporation, LLC, LLP, LP or statutory trust already on file with the Secretary of the State). 

 Trade names now expire 5 years from when they are filed, unless renewed. Trade names on file prior to January 1, 2025 will expire December 31, 2029.

TRADE NAME FORMS & FEES

• Trade Name Application (Individuals):  $20.00 filing fee (cash or check; no cards). For applications filed by one or more individuals, not business entities. An Addendum is also available if 3 or more individuals are applying for the trade name.

•  Trade Name Application (Business Organizations): $20.00 filing fee (cash or check; no cards). For business organizations registered with the Secretary of the State.  The status of the business organization must be active.

•  Trade Name Cancellation (All Filer Types): $20.00 filing fee (cash or check; no cards)

Please note that a trade name certificate needs to be notarized, which can be done in the Town Clerk's office for an additional $5 fee (cash or check only). You may also have the form notarized outside of our office if you prefer. 

MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the Secretary of the State Site on Trade Names  
• For additional state licensing and registration information, The Business Start Up Tool from the Connecticut Secretary of State's office can help you get your business off on the right foot.  
• In order to see if a business in Town has filed a Trade Name Certificate, please contact our office at 860-828-7036. The process of establishing a statewide Connecticut Trade Name Registry, searchable by the general public online, is in the works and planned to launch sometime in 2026.   

Frequently Asked Questions

I do business in multiple towns under the trade name, do I have to file in each one?

No. The new law says the trade name should be filed in the town where the business is principally transacted. This new one town rule is consistent with the goal of a statewide registry -- where a trade name can be found regardless of what town it is filed in -- making multi-town filing unnecessary. 

 Is a trade name unique?

No. Unlike business organizations, a trade name is not unique. There can be multiple businesses operating under the same trade name.

I already have an LLC/Non-Profit Corporation/For-Profit Corporation registered with the Secretary of the State. Do I need a trade name?  

No. A trade name is only needed if the business organization is transacting business under a name that is different than what is on file with the Secretary. If the business is conducting business under the name on file with the Secretary, a trade name is unnecessary.  

I belong to a group of people (not a business organization) who want to get an Employer ID Number from the IRS and open a bank account in the group’s name, do I need a trade name?

The practical answer is yes. State law does not require a group like this to create a trade name, but IRS rules regarding what groups are permitted to apply for an EIN and bank rules requiring EINs upon account creation mean that these groups need to file a trade name, unless they go through the formal process of forming as a non-stock corporation with the Secretary of the State.  

I filed my trade name prior to this new law, is it still valid?

Yes, trade names filed prior to 1/1/2025 remain valid until 12/31/2029.

Berlin is business-friendly.  Many local companies are owned by Berlin residents.  A number of our national companies also are long-time corporate residents.  We are looking for businesses that want long-term partnerships with us.

Berlin and the State of Connecticut offer a variety of incentives for both new and expanding companies.  Information on our Tax Abatement and various loan programs is available by going to the Tax Abatement section or by contacting Economic Development Director Chris Edge.