Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-5
(Formerly Sec. 47-24a). Penalty for allowing occupancy without certificate of occupancy.
Operative Text
In any borough, city or town which requires a certificate of occupancy prior to human habitation of any building located therein, if any building is occupied in whole or in part without such occupancy permit, the owner or lessor of the premises shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than twenty dollars per day, per apartment or dwelling unit, for not more than two hundred days for such period of unlawful occupation.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-5, when a Connecticut borough, city, or town requires a certificate of occupancy before a building can be legally inhabited, allowing people to live there without that certificate exposes the owner or lessor to civil penalties. The penalty can reach up to twenty dollars per day for each apartment or dwelling unit, for a maximum of two hundred days of unlawful occupation. This rule applies wherever local law makes a certificate of occupancy a prerequisite for human habitation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-5 makes clear that property owners and lessors in municipalities that require certificates of occupancy must secure that documentation before allowing any tenant to move in. Compliant operators typically verify that a valid certificate of occupancy is on file for each unit before executing a lease or handing over keys. Because the civil penalty can accumulate at up to twenty dollars per unit per day for up to two hundred days, maintaining current occupancy documentation for every dwelling unit is a standard part of responsible property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-5 establishes that tenants living in a unit without a required certificate of occupancy may have grounds to raise the landlord's violation as a legal issue, since the owner or lessor bears civil liability for the unlawful occupation. If you believe your unit lacks a required certificate of occupancy, general enforcement paths include contacting your local building or housing department to inquire about the property's permit status. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can also help you understand how this provision may relate to your housing situation and what options are generally available to renters in similar 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 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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