New Haven County, Connecticut: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (Superior Court small claims session (general claims)); $15,000 (home improvement / new home construction contracts only). E-filing: Yes. Court: New Haven Judicial District and Housing Session. Statewide filing fee: $95.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (Superior Court small claims session (general claims)); $15,000 (home improvement / new home construction contracts only)
Statewide filing fee	$95.
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Connecticut	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after termination of a tenancy. 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). 15 calendar days after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address. 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.
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.
Deposit statute	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21

Where to file

New Haven Judicial District and Housing Session

Courthouse city: New Haven

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Connecticut for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in New Haven County

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Median rent listed for New Haven: $1,488 (2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates). This uses the county-name match in the rent source linked below. County Census rent is unavailable for this comparison.

A deposit of one to two months at that rent would range from $1,488 to $2,976. This is an example, not a legal deposit cap.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $5,000 (Superior Court small claims session (general claims)), the whole deposit range fits.
Compared with $15,000 (home improvement / new home construction contracts only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Rent source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Ansonia
Derby
Meriden
Milford city (balance)
Naugatuck
New Haven
Waterbury
West Haven
Woodmont

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Phone: 203-503-6800

Hours: Courthouses are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, except on legal holidays.

From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read

Court contact source

Free help in New Haven County

New Haven Legal Assistance Association
free civil legal services for people living in poverty in New Haven County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley, including evictions, housing-subsidy terminations, and related housing law
Phone: (203) 946-4811

Statewide help

Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut
statewide legal-aid hotline and online intake that screens low-income residents and connects them to free civil legal help, including housing and eviction
Phone: (800) 453-3320
Connecticut Legal Services
free civil legal aid for low-income people outside greater Hartford and greater New Haven, including housing issues such as homelessness; apply through Statewide Legal Services
Greater Hartford Legal Aid
free civil legal services for low-income people and seniors in the Hartford area, including legal representation to preserve housing and improve rental conditions
Connecticut Fair Housing Center
free investigative and legal services for Connecticut residents facing housing discrimination, plus renter self-help tools for eviction and housing conditions
Phone: (860) 247-4400
Connecticut Tenants Union
statewide tenant union that organizes renters to bargain over rent, repairs, and displacement and campaigns for just-cause eviction protections
Building Neighborhoods Together
HUD-certified housing counseling including rental housing counseling, eviction-prevention education, and tenant-rights classes
Phone: (203) 290-4255

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Connecticut security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 21 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Connecticut: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Connecticut law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Connecticut letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Connecticut small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

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Free Connecticut template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Connecticut law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [21 calendar days / 15 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in New Haven County?

Statewide filing fee: $95.

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Connecticut: 6 years.

Where do I file?

New Haven Judicial District and Housing Session. Courthouse city: New Haven. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.