Deposit laws by state › Connecticut
State law · Connecticut
Connecticut security deposit law
How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.
Short answer: Within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or the balance with a written itemized statement of damages.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?
- Return deadline
- Within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or the balance with a written itemized statement of damages.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)
- Itemized list
- The written itemized statement of damages is due on the same schedule.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)
- Forwarding address
- Giving a written forwarding address is optional, but if given, the landlord has at least 15 days from receiving it.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a Connecticut landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- Connecticut's remedy is twice the deposit rather than a stated forfeiture.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)
- Penalty
- A landlord who violates the deadline is liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid. If the only violation is unpaid interest, the penalty is $10 or twice the interest, whichever is greater.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)
- Interest
- Connecticut deposits earn interest at a rate set each year, and the landlord must return the deposit with accrued interest.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
What can a Connecticut landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Damages from the tenant's failure to meet the tenant's obligations, which include unpaid rent and utilities. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(a)(14), (d))
What the itemized list must include: A written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2))
Connecticut's deposit statute does not separately define normal wear and tear. See what counts as normal wear and tear for how it is generally treated.
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Connecticut?
A landlord may not demand a deposit of more than two months' rent, or one month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b))
If you were 62 or older, the limit was one month's rent; a tenant who turns 62 can ask for any amount above one month's rent back.
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Connecticut
Small-claims limit: Connecticut small claims covers $5,000, but a security deposit claim may ask for double the deposit plus interest even if that exceeds $5,000. (Connecticut small claims writ (JD-CV-40) instructions)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
Good to know
- In 2023 Connecticut shortened the deadline from 30 days to 21 days (P.A. 23-207). Tenancies that ended before the change may fall under the old 30-day rule.
What to do if your Connecticut landlord kept your deposit
- Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
- Gather your evidence. Move-in and move-out photos, the lease, the landlord's list of deductions, receipts and messages. The case checklist covers what matters.
- Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite Connecticut's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
- If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.
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Sources
These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21: law.justia.com
- Connecticut small claims writ (JD-CV-40) instructions: forms.justia.com
Other states: see the guides for all 50 states and DC
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Local ordinances can add rules, and your lease and facts matter. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in Connecticut.