In Connecticut, eviction is legally referred to as Summary Process (C.G.S. § 47a-23). Governed by the Connecticut General Statutes, the state has rigid procedural requirements that landlords must follow. Any misstep—such as miscalculating the grace period or delivering the notice improperly—can result in the judge dismissing the case and forcing the landlord to start over.

"Self-help" evictions in Connecticut (e.g., changing locks, removing doors, terminating utilities) are strictly illegal and can lead to criminal charges and civil lawsuits resulting in double damages against the landlord. (C.G.S. § 47a-4(a)(5))

Official Law Citation: The rules and regulations outlined on this page are correctly anchored to the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S. Chapter 832, Summary Process)Preview unavailable.

1. Establishing Grounds for Eviction

A landlord must have legal cause to evict a tenant. Common grounds include:

• Non-payment of rent (after the required grace period).
• Material non-compliance with the lease agreement.
• Material non-compliance with tenant duties under state law (e.g., causing a severe health/safety hazard).
• Expiration of the lease term (with notable exceptions for protected classes).

Protected Classes against No-Fault Eviction

Connecticut law prohibits landlords from evicting tenants simply because their lease expired ("lapse of time") if the tenant is 62 years of age or older, or if they have a recognized physical or mental disability. Landlords must have "Just Cause" (like non-payment or lease violations) to evict these protected individuals. This applies to tenants in a building or complex consisting of five or more separate dwelling units or in a mobile manufactured home park.

2. Serving the Notice

The first strict legal step is serving the tenant with a written notice.

The Notice to Quit (For Non-Payment or End of Term)

If evicting for non-payment of rent, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement if rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within nine days thereafter or, in the case of a one-week tenancy, within four days thereafter (C.G.S. § 47a-15a). Once the grace period has passed, the landlord shall give notice to each lessee or occupant to quit possession or occupancy of such land, building, apartment or dwelling unit, at least three days before the termination of the rental agreement or lease, if any, or before the time specified in the notice for the lessee or occupant to quit possession or occupancy (C.G.S. § 47a-23(a)).

Notice for Lease Violations

If there is a material noncompliance by the tenant with the rental agreement or a material noncompliance with the rules and regulations adopted in accordance with section 47a-9, and the landlord chooses to evict based on such noncompliance, the landlord shall deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the acts or omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement shall terminate upon a date not less than fifteen days after receipt of the notice. If such breach can be remedied by repair by the tenant or payment of damages by the tenant to the landlord, and such breach is not so remedied within such fifteen-day period, the rental agreement shall terminate. If the breach is remediable and the tenant adequately remedies it within the fifteen-day period, the rental agreement shall not terminate. If substantially the same act or omission for which notice was given recurs within six months, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. (C.G.S. § 47a-15)

3. Filing the Summons and Complaint

If the tenant remains in the property after the Notice to Quit expires, the landlord must file a Summons and Complaint with the local Housing Session of the Superior Court.

A state marshal or indifferent person must serve the Summons and Complaint to the tenant. The tenant is given a strict deadline (often just a few days) to file an "Appearance" with the court.

4. Default Judgments and Court Hearings

• If the tenant fails to file an Appearance: If the defendant does not appear within two days after the return day and a motion for judgment for failure to appear and an endorsed copy of the notice to quit is filed with the clerk, the court shall, not later than the first court day after the filing of such motion, enter judgment that the complainant recover possession or occupancy of the premises with the complainant's costs, and execution shall issue. (C.G.S. § 47a-26)
• If the tenant files an Appearance and Answer: A mediation session with a Housing Specialist is usually scheduled. If mediation fails, the case proceeds to a trial before a judge.

5. Execution of Eviction

If the judge rules in favor of the landlord (or grants a default judgment), execution shall be stayed for five days from the date judgment has been rendered, provided any Sunday or legal holiday intervening shall be excluded in computing such five days. (C.G.S. § 47a-35(a)) After this 5-day period, the plaintiff may obtain an execution upon such summary process judgment. A state marshal may then remove the defendant or other occupant and their possessions and personal effects, delivering them to the place of storage designated by the chief executive officer for such purposes. (C.G.S. § 47a-42(a))

How Landager Helps

Landager continually tracks lease terms, required compliance items, and strict escrow accounting records - making it easy to fundamentally stay heavily compliant with Connecticut regulations.

Back to Connecticut Landlord-Tenant Laws OverviewPreview unavailable.