Connecticut Security Deposit Return Law & Letter
In Connecticut, the deposit and an itemized statement are generally due within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). Build the letter below — deductions listed line by line and the refund math done.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) — the deadline to return the deposit and send the itemized statement
Connecticut provides for the deposit’s return within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). 21 days is on the short side — 2 of the 26 states verified here allow less time, and 20 allow more.
| Tenancy ends | Letter must be sent by |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | February 21, 2026 |
| April 15, 2026 | May 6, 2026 |
| July 31, 2026 | August 21, 2026 |
| November 30, 2026 | December 21, 2026 |
What the Connecticut letter has to contain
- Every deduction on its own line. Connecticut requires an itemized statement rather than a lump sum (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)).
- The arithmetic, shown. Deposit held, each deduction, and the balance refunded or still owed — so nothing has to be taken on trust.
- Where the refund went. The forwarding address you sent it to, and how.
Proving you sent it in time
The deadline is about when the letter left, and in a dispute that is the fact in question. Email gives you a timestamp for nothing; certified mail gives you a receipt. Either beats posting it second class and hoping. Whatever you use, keep the copy you sent — a Connecticut deadline you met but cannot evidence is not much better than one you missed.
Working out what you can defensibly deduct is a separate job from writing the letter — that lives on the Connecticut deduction page, which prorates each item by its remaining useful life.
Other states: Florida · Georgia · Illinois · All states
Connecticut rule last checked 2026-08-13 against Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2). General information, not legal advice — verify the current statute before you rely on it.
Everything else we’ve researched about Connecticut
Same state, the problems either side of this one. Each carries its own statute and the date we last checked it.
- Connecticut rent late fees & grace periodWhat may be charged when rent is late, and the notice to send.
- Connecticut notice to pay rent or quitHow many days' notice before a nonpayment filing, counted on a calendar.
- Connecticut deposit demand letterFor the tenant: whether the landlord is late, and by how many days.
- Connecticut deposit deduction rulesWhat may fairly come out of a deposit, prorated by useful life.
- Connecticut emergency plan rulesDrill frequency, filings, prescribed forms and retention, cited.