Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a § 46a-98a
Discriminatory housing practice or breach of conciliation agreement: Cause of action; relief.
Operative Text
Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of section 46a-64c or 46a-81e or by a breach of a conciliation agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter, may bring an action in the Superior Court, or the housing session of said court if appropriate within one year of the date of the alleged discriminatory practice or of a breach of a conciliation agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter. No action pursuant to this section may be brought in the Superior Court regarding the alleged discriminatory practice after the commission has obtained a conciliation agreement pursuant to section 46a-83 or commenced a hearing pursuant to section 46a-84, except for an action to enforce the conciliation agreement. The court shall have the power to grant relief, by injunction or otherwise, as it deems just and suitable. The court may grant any relief which a presiding officer may grant in a proceeding under section 46a-86 or which the court may grant in a proceeding under section 46a-89. The commission, through commission legal counsel or the Attorney General, may intervene as a matter of right in any action brought pursuant to this section without permission of the court or the parties.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-98a, a person who believes they have been subjected to a discriminatory housing practice or that a conciliation agreement has been breached may file a civil lawsuit in Connecticut Superior Court within one year of the alleged violation. Once the state commission has secured a conciliation agreement or begun a formal hearing, the Superior Court route is generally closed except to enforce that agreement. The court holds broad authority to award relief, including injunctions and other remedies comparable to those available in administrative proceedings, and the commission or Attorney General may intervene in any such lawsuit as a matter of right.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should understand that Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-98a creates a parallel private court remedy alongside the state administrative process for alleged fair-housing violations under sections 46a-64c and 46a-81e. Compliant operators typically maintain clear, documented non-discriminatory policies and honor any conciliation agreements reached with the commission, since a breach of such an agreement can itself trigger a Superior Court action. Awareness of this dual-track enforcement structure—administrative and judicial—helps operators appreciate the full scope of potential accountability under Connecticut fair-housing law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-98a gives individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices a direct path to Connecticut Superior Court, separate from filing an administrative complaint with the commission. This private right of action must generally be exercised within one year of the alleged discriminatory act or conciliation-agreement breach, and the available remedies are broad. Tenants exploring this option may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how the one-year window, any ongoing commission proceedings, and the range of available court remedies interact in their circumstances.
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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