Connecticut (CT) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Connecticut, serve a written Notice to Quit (as short as 3 days for nonpayment or serious nuisance), wait for it to expire, then file a Summary Process complaint in Housing Court. If the court rules in your favor, the tenant has 5 days to appeal before you can request a State Marshal to carry out the lockout. The full process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from notice to removal.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, nuisance, illegal use, holdover after lease ends |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 3 days (nonpayment or serious nuisance) |
| Where to file | Connecticut Superior Court, Housing Session |
| Filing fee | About $175 to $200 |
| Typical timeframe | 4 to 8 weeks |
Used for nonpayment of rent (after any applicable grace period) or serious nuisance; Sundays and state holidays do not count toward the 3 days.
Required for curable lease violations, giving the tenant a chance to fix the problem before the landlord can file in court.
Applies when a tenant uses the unit for illegal activity; no cure opportunity is required under Connecticut General Statutes Section 47a-31.
Served after a fixed-term lease ends and the tenant refuses to leave, or after a proper lease termination notice has already expired.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the Notice to Quit | 3 to 15 days | Deliver a written Notice to Quit by certified mail or in person; the notice period must expire before you can file anything in court. |
| 2. File a Summary Process Complaint | 1 to 3 days | File the complaint and summons at the Housing Session of Connecticut Superior Court and pay the filing fee (about $175 to $200). |
| 3. Serve the Tenant with Court Papers | 3 to 7 days | A State Marshal must personally serve the summons and complaint on the tenant at least 3 days before the return date. |
| 4. Attend the Court Hearing | 7 to 14 days after filing | Both parties appear before a Housing Court judge; if the tenant does not show, the landlord typically receives a default judgment. |
| 5. Receive Judgment for Possession | Same day to 1 week after hearing | If the court rules in your favor, a judgment is entered and the tenant has 5 days to appeal or move out voluntarily. |
| 6. Request Execution and State Marshal Lockout | 1 to 7 days after appeal period | Obtain a Summary Process Execution form from the clerk, pay the execution fee, and hire a State Marshal who gives the tenant a final 24-hour notice before physical removal. |
Filing a Summary Process complaint costs about $175 to $200 in court fees, with total out-of-pocket costs (service by State Marshal, execution fee, and any attorney fees) typically reaching $300 to $600 for an uncontested case. Contested evictions with legal representation can run $1,500 or more depending on the number of hearings.
After a judgment for possession, the tenant has 5 days to appeal; if no appeal is filed, the landlord requests a Summary Process Execution (writ of possession) from the Housing Court clerk. A State Marshal (not the landlord) then serves the tenant a final 24-hour notice and performs the physical lockout. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order) is illegal in Connecticut and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Connecticut General Statutes Title 47a, Chapter 832 (Summary Process). Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Connecticut eviction FAQ
Most uncontested evictions in Connecticut take **4 to 8 weeks** from serving the Notice to Quit through the State Marshal lockout. Contested cases or cases involving a tenant appeal can stretch to **3 to 4 months** or longer.
Filing fees run about **$175 to $200**, and total costs including State Marshal service and the execution fee typically land between **$300 and $600** for a straightforward case. Add attorney fees if the tenant contests, and the total can easily exceed **$1,500**.
No. Connecticut law requires a court judgment before any tenant can be removed. Changing the locks, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out are all forms of illegal self-help eviction and can result in the landlord owing damages to the tenant.
A Notice to Quit is the written demand a landlord must give a tenant before filing for eviction. The required notice period is **3 days** for nonpayment or serious nuisance and **15 days** for curable lease violations. Sundays and state legal holidays do not count toward the notice period.
Only a licensed **State Marshal** can physically remove a tenant in Connecticut. After the landlord obtains a Summary Process Execution from the court clerk, the Marshal serves a final **24-hour notice** on the tenant before carrying out removal. Landlords cannot perform the lockout themselves.
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