Connecticut security deposit rules
Connecticut limits security deposits to 2 months' rent (1 month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older). The deposit must be returned 21 days after termination of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving written notice of the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later (deposit plus accrued interest, less itemized deductions). Connecticut is one of the states that requires interest on the deposit.
What the law requires
2 months' rent (1 month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older). Returned 21 days after termination of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving written notice of the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later (deposit plus accrued interest, less itemized deductions). PA 23-207 (effective Oct 1, 2023) shortened the return deadline from 30 to 21 days and added the 15-days-after-forwarding-address alternative. Deposit must be held in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution and earn interest at not less than the Banking Commissioner's deposit index (§ 36a-26), paid or credited annually; interest is forfeited for any month the tenant is more than 10 days late unless a late charge was imposed. Secondary sources report PA 26-79 (2026) raising civil penalties for deposit violations to $100,000 — UNVERIFIED against the act text.
- Deductions: unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, itemised in writing. Cleaning and repainting after ordinary use are normal wear in most states.
- Deadline: the 21-day clock usually starts when the tenant moves out and, in many states, when a forwarding address is provided. Missing it typically forfeits the landlord’s right to keep any of the deposit and can add statutory damages.
- Interest: Connecticut requires interest on the deposit. The deposit interest calculator applies the rate and thresholds.
Move-out checklist
- Give written notice of the move-out date and a forwarding address; many deadlines only start when the landlord has the address.
- Photograph every room after cleaning, with a timestamp. Request a joint inspection where the state allows one.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand citing Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b), (d), (h), (i). Small-claims court handles deposit disputes in every state and most cap the claim well above a typical deposit.
Related Connecticut rules
- Late fees: No late charge until rent is more than 9 days late (4 days for a week-to-week tenancy). The charge may not exceed the lesser of (1) $5 per day up to a maximum of $50, or (2) 5% of the delinquent rent (5% of the tenant's share if rent is subsidized). Only one late charge per delinquent payment regardless of how long it remains unpaid; a lease clause contrary to these limits is unenforceable (§ 47a-4(a)(8)-(9)). Added by PA 23-207, effective Oct 1, 2023. Secondary sources report PA 25-1 (effective Jan 1, 2026) extends the grace period 5 more days when the landlord's own online payment system blocked the payment — UNVERIFIED against the act text. Late fee calculator.
- Notice to end a tenancy: Connecticut has no separate statutory notice period for ending a month-to-month tenancy. A landlord ends it by serving a notice to quit for lapse of time at least 3 full days before the quit date, and per the Judicial Branch's summary-process guide the quit date must also be no earlier than the end of the current rental month. No statute sets a tenant's notice period; the common-law rule of one full rental period applies (UNVERIFIED in statute). Notice calculator.
- All rules on one page: Connecticut landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Connecticut?
2 months' rent (1 month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older). PA 23-207 (effective Oct 1, 2023) shortened the return deadline from 30 to 21 days and added the 15-days-after-forwarding-address alternative. Deposit must be held in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution and earn interest at not less than the Banking Commissioner's deposit index (§ 36a-26), paid or credited annually; interest is forfeited for any month the tenant is more than 10 days late unless a late charge was imposed. Secondary sources report PA 26-79 (2026) raising civil penalties for deposit violations to $100,000 — UNVERIFIED against the act text.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?
21 days after termination of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving written notice of the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later (deposit plus accrued interest, less itemized deductions). The statute is Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b), (d), (h), (i).
Does a Connecticut landlord have to pay interest on the security deposit?
Yes, in the circumstances set out in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b), (d), (h), (i). See the Connecticut deposit interest calculator for the rate and the rules.