Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8 § 8-116b
Possession of pets.
Operative Text
(a) For the purposes of this section, “pet” means a domesticated dog, cat or bird or an aquarium. (b) No housing project operated pursuant to parts VI or VIII of this chapter may prohibit the keeping of one pet by any resident in any such housing projects if the residents of any such project, by majority vote, determine that pets shall be allowed in such project. Each dwelling unit shall be allowed one ballot in any such vote. Each such vote shall be by secret ballot and administered by the local housing authority or eligible developer operating such project. A vote may be initiated at the request of any tenant, but no vote shall be taken sooner than three years after any previous vote unless a petition signed by a majority of the tenants of such project requesting such a vote is filed with the local housing authority or eligible developer operating such project. No person who owns any pet in any such project shall be required to dispose of any such pet because of a subsequent vote to prohibit pets. No applicant for admission to such housing project shall be required to dispose of any such pet in order to occupy such housing project because of a subsequent vote to prohibit pets if pets were allowed on the date the person applied for admission to the project. (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent a local housing authority or eligible developer from requiring the removal from any housing project of any pet whose conduct or condition is duly determined to constitute a threat or nuisance to the other occupants of such housing project. No pet shall be kept in violation of humane or health laws. Nothing in this section shall: (1) Prevent any housing authority or eligible developer from adopting reasonable regulations relating to the keeping of such pets, which may include a requirement limiting the size of such pets and a requirement for the neutering of such pets; (2) prevent the adoption of differing terms for the tenancy which are reasonably related to the presence of such pet; (3) relieve any tenant from any liability otherwise imposed by law for damages caused by any such pet; or (4) prevent any housing authority or eligible developer from requiring a tenant to provide notice to the authority or developer if the tenant keeps any such pet.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-116b establishes a resident-driven voting process that can unlock the right to keep one pet — defined as a domesticated dog, cat, bird, or aquarium — in Connecticut public housing projects operating under the relevant statutory parts. A majority vote of residents (one ballot per dwelling unit, conducted by secret ballot) determines whether pets are permitted, and no vote can be repeated within three years unless a majority-signed petition requests one. Residents who already own a pet when a subsequent prohibitory vote occurs are protected from being forced to give up that pet, and housing authorities retain authority to set reasonable pet regulations and remove animals that pose a genuine threat or nuisance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-116b, local housing authorities and eligible developers operating covered housing projects are responsible for administering any pet-permission vote — ensuring it is conducted by secret ballot, with one vote per dwelling unit, and no repeat vote within three years absent a qualifying petition. Compliant operators typically maintain written pet regulations that may address size limits, neutering requirements, and notice obligations, and they document any formal determination that a specific animal constitutes a threat or nuisance before pursuing removal. Operators also generally track the pet-ownership status of applicants at the time of application, since that date is relevant to grandfathering protections under the statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-116b gives residents of covered Connecticut public housing projects the ability to initiate a vote on whether pets should be allowed, and any tenant may request that such a vote be held. If pets were permitted when a tenant applied for admission, that tenant cannot be required to give up a pet solely because a later vote goes against pets — a protection worth documenting by keeping records of the project's pet policy at the time of application. Tenants who believe their rights under § 8-116b have been violated may consider raising the issue with their local housing authority, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring available administrative or legal remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 24, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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