Connecticut Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In Connecticut, a landlord has until the later of 21 days after your lease ends or 15 days after your landlord gets your new address in writing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21). The dates you enter below give your date.
- Your deadline is whichever comes later: 21 days after your tenancy ended, or 15 days after your landlord got your new address in writing.
Last checked 2026-07-14
Calculate your deadline and next letter
Your free letter
Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.
Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked
Details of the return rules
In Connecticut, a landlord has 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)) or 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address) to return a security deposit.
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later) | 21 days | after termination of a tenancy |
| applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address | 15 days | after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address |
Connecticut return rule: 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)). Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)); trigger: after termination of a tenancy |
|---|---|
| Additional deadline 2 | 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address); trigger: after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address |
| Penalty formula | landlord liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid; if the only violation is failure to deliver accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the accrued interest, whichever is greater |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 |
How does Connecticut's deadline compare with other states?
Connecticut's return deadline is 21 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
landlord liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid; if the only violation is failure to deliver accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the accrued interest, whichever is greater The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21; it is separate from the deposit owed.
Connecticut is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← Connecticut | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?
Send the required information to start the clock.
- Give the forwarding address in writing. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
Connecticut law does not clearly say whether a deposit deadline moves when it falls on a weekend or holiday.
To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.
What Connecticut law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)) or 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address). The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)) or 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address)
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- No separate threshold recorded
- Interest
- Annual interest not less than the deposit index under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-26 for that calendar year (Banking Commissioner). Paid on anniversary of tenancy or credited to rent; accrued interest due within 21 days if tenancy ends mid-year. Tenant forfeits interest for any month more than 10 days late on rent unless landlord imposes a late charge. 2026 published rate 0.49% per CT Department of Banking.
Is interest owed on a deposit in Connecticut?
Connecticut is one of 3 states where interest is required. Check interest and any local rule.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law ← Connecticut | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law | 37 | 73% |
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
Connecticut security deposit deductions
FAQ
How do I confirm the Connecticut deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21, and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Connecticut court guide
City data on this page currently includes Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
Not later than twenty-one days after termination of a tenancy or fifteen days after receiving written notification of such tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later, each landlord other than a rent receiver shall deliver to the tenant or former tenant at such forwarding address either (A) the full amount of the security deposit paid by such tenant plus accrued interest, or (B) the balance of such security deposit and accrued interest after deduction for any damages suffered by such landlord by reason of such tenant's failure to comply with such tenant's obligations, together with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of such damages. Any landlord who violates any provision of this subsection shall be liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid by such tenant, except that, if the only violation is the failure to deliver the accrued interest, such landlord shall be liable for ten dollars or twice the amount of the accrued interest, whichever is greater.
What this means
Sources
- https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_831.htm · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://portal.ct.gov/dob/rental-security-deposits/rental-security-deposits/rental-security-deposits · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://www.jud.ct.gov/faq/smallclaims.html · accessed 2026-07-14
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6