Connecticut Landlord-Tenant Law

Connecticut caps most security deposits at 2 months' rent (1 exception applies), and requires its return within 21 days after the lease ends; entry follows a "Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, entry only at reasonable times; no notice in an emergency" standard, and rent control is left to individual cities.

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

Security deposits in Connecticut

Maximum deposit

Landlords may not demand a security deposit above two months' rent, or above one month's rent from a tenant aged 62 or older (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b))

Two months' rent; one month's rent for tenants 62 or older

Tenant is 62 or older (a tenant who turns 62 after paying more can request a refund of the excess over one month): 1 month's rent maximum

Return deadline

Landlords must return the deposit plus accrued interest, or the balance with an itemized statement of damages, within 21 days after the tenancy ends or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), P.A. 23-207, § 38 (30 → 21 days, eff. Oct. 1, 2023))

In effect since October 1, 2023.
Before October 1, 2023: 30 days after termination of tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever was later.

Itemized deductions

A landlord who deducts damages must send a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages with the balance of the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2))

Interest on deposits

Landlords must pay interest on security deposits at no less than the yearly deposit index (0.49% for 2026), paid or credited each tenancy anniversary and with the deposit at move-out (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(i)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(h), (i), CT Department of Banking, Deposit Index and Interest Rates (2026: 0.49%))

Interest at no less than the deposit index set yearly by the Banking Commissioner (0.49% for 2026), paid or credited on each tenancy anniversary and at move-out; deposits must be held in a Connecticut escrow account

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord who misses the return or itemization rules owes the tenant twice the security deposit, or the greater of $10 or twice the interest if only interest was withheld (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), (k)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), (j), (k), P.A. 26-79, § 3 (Banking Commissioner civil penalties, eff. Oct. 1, 2026))

In effect since October 1, 2026.

Connecticut security deposit law and return-deadline calculator

Connecticut late fees

Late-fee limit

A late fee must be in a written lease and may not exceed the lesser of $5 per day up to $50 or 5% of the late rent, charged only once per late payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b), P.A. 23-207, § 8 (eff. Oct. 1, 2023))

Formula: Lesser of (1) $5 per day up to $50, or (2) 5% of the delinquent rent (5% of the tenant's share if rent is partly paid by a government or charity); one late charge per late payment

In effect since October 1, 2023.
Before October 1, 2023: No statutory dollar or percentage cap on late charges; only the 9-day (4-day weekly) grace period applied.

Grace period

A late fee may be charged only on rent paid after the 9-day grace period (4 days for week-to-week tenancies), plus 5 more days in a month when the landlord's online payment system prevents on-time payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a), (b))

Landlord entry in Connecticut

A Connecticut landlord must give reasonable written or oral notice before entering and may come only at reasonable times, except in an emergency (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16(c)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16)

Standard: Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, entry only at reasonable times; no notice in an emergency

Ending a month-to-month tenancy in Connecticut

No Connecticut statute sets how much notice a tenant must give to end a month-to-month tenancy, so follow the lease; a landlord ends one by having a marshal serve a notice to quit for lapse of time that gives at least three full days and runs to the end of the rental month (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3b, 47a-23(a)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3b)

Rent increase notice in Connecticut

Connecticut landlords must give written notice at least 45 days before a rent increase takes effect, or one full term for leases of a month or less; the statute does not allow an increase during a lease term, and silence from the tenant does not count as agreement (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e, P.A. 24-143, § 17)

Leases of one month or less: one full lease term

In effect since October 1, 2024.
Before October 1, 2024: No statewide rent-increase notice period; notice followed the lease.

Rent control in Connecticut

Connecticut caps no rents statewide, but local fair rent commissions, required in towns of 15,000 or more residents by Jan. 1, 2028, can hear complaints and limit an excessive rent or increase to a fair amount (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b(b)-(c), 7-148d(a)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148c, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148d)

No statewide rent cap. Every municipality of 15,000 or more must create or join a fair rent commission by Jan. 1, 2028 (smaller towns may); after a hearing a commission can limit a rent or proposed increase it finds so excessive as to be harsh and unconscionable, judged on factors such as comparable rents, condition, taxes and the frequency of increases (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b to 7-148d).

In effect since January 1, 2026.
Before January 1, 2026: Towns, cities and boroughs of 25,000 or more had to create a fair rent commission by July 1, 2023 (P.A. 22-30).

Required lease disclosures in Connecticut

Connecticut leases given on or after April 1, 2026 must open with the state's standardized rental terms summary, and landlords must name the manager and the agent for notices, disclose known bed bug infestations, state sprinkler status where a building needs one, offer a move-in walk-through, and give the federal lead notice for pre-1978 housing (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7d(d), 47a-6, 47a-7a(c), 47a-3f, 47a-7c; 40 CFR 745.107). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7d (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3e, 47a-3f, 47a-6, 47a-7a, 47a-7c, 40 CFR 745.107)

Lead-based paint disclosure, lead warning statement and EPA pamphlet (Housing built before 1978 (unless exempt under 40 CFR 745.101)) — 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F (§ 745.107)
Standardized rental terms summary form (Department of Housing), completed, as the first page of the lease (Every written rental agreement provided on or after April 1, 2026) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7d(c)-(d)
Name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and of the person authorized to receive notices and service of process (In writing on or before the start of the tenancy; keep current) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-6(a)
Whether the unit, or any contiguous unit the landlord owns or leases, is currently infested with bed bugs (Before renting the unit) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(c)
Whether the building has an operative fire sprinkler system and, if so, its last maintenance and inspection date, in 12-point boldface (In the rental agreement, for buildings required to have a sprinkler system) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3f
Written notice that the unit is in a common interest community (Before signing, when the declarant or successor declarant is the landlord) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3e
Offer of a pre-occupancy walk-through using the Department of Housing checklist (After signing and before move-in (rental agreements on or after Jan. 1, 2024)) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c(a)

Eviction notices in Connecticut

Unpaid rent

If rent is still unpaid nine days after it was due (four days for a weekly tenancy), the landlord may have a state marshal serve a notice to quit that gives at least three full days to leave, with the Right to Counsel notice attached (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a(a), 47a-23(a), 47a-75(f)(2)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)-(d) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-75(f)(2))

Notice: Notice to quit for nonpayment (served after the 9-day grace period) (3 days)

Lease violations

For a material lease violation, deliver a written notice naming the breach and a termination date at least 15 days after receipt; a repairable breach fixed, or damages paid, within those 15 days keeps the lease alive, but a repeat within six months or a serious nuisance allows a notice to quit with no cure period (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15, 47a-23(a)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)(1)(C), (G))

Notice period: 15 days; the tenant can cure the violation within the notice period

Connecticut compared with neighbouring states

Connecticut and its neighbours on five headline rules
State	Deposit cap	Deposit return	Late fee	Entry notice	Rent control
Connecticut	2 months' rent (with exceptions)Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)	21 days after the lease endsConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), P.A. 23-207, § 38 (30 → 21 days, eff. Oct. 1, 2023)	Lesser of (1) $5 per day up to $50, or (2) 5% of the delinquent rent (5% of the tenant's share if rent is partly paid by a government or charity); one late charge per late payment; grace: 9 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b), P.A. 23-207, § 8 (eff. Oct. 1, 2023), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a), (b)	Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, entry only at reasonable times; no notice in an emergencyConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16	No statewide law; cities may regulateConn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148c, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148d
Massachusetts	1 month's rent	30 days after move-out	No state cap; grace: 30 days	No fixed number of hours	None; cities barred from adopting it
New York	1 month's rent (with exceptions)	14 days after move-out	Statutory formula; grace: 5 days	No state rule	No statewide law; cities may regulate
Rhode Island	1 month's rent (with exceptions)	20 days after the triggering event	No state cap; grace: no state grace period	48 hours' notice	No statewide rent control

Writing a Connecticut lease

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