How long does an eviction take in Connecticut?
For unpaid rent, expect about 5.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Connecticut, and anywhere from 3.5 to 12.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Connecticut eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 9 daysofficial source
Notice to quit can only be delivered once rent is 9 days late (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-23, 47a-15a) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-45 days (typical 21)official source
Tenant must file an appearance within 2 days after the return date source - Judgment to lockout 6-14 daysofficial source
Execution is automatically stayed 5 days (excluding Sundays and holidays) after judgment source - If the tenant appeals 5-day windowofficial source
Appeal within the 5-day stay; a timely appeal stays execution unless the tenant fails to post the required bond source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given. official source source
Eviction costs in Connecticut
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $175 | Statewide: Summary process entry fee $175 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Connecticut; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Connecticut; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,550/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$24) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | Yes | Statewide right to counsel for tenants at or below 80% of state median income secondary source source |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Connecticut
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 80/100
Timeline 35.4/50 · right to cure 20/20 · statewide protections 25/30. How the score works.
Connecticut eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Connecticut?
A nonpayment eviction in Connecticut typically takes about 5.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 12.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Connecticut?
Notice to quit can only be delivered once rent is 9 days late (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-23, 47a-15a).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Connecticut by paying the rent?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Connecticut?
The court filing fee is $175 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Connecticut landlord-friendly for evictions?
Connecticut scores 80 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 35.4/50, right to cure 20/20, statewide tenant protections 25/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | www.cga.ct.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | cga.ct.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.jud.ct.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Right to counsel | secondary source | civilrighttocounsel.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Connecticut: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
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