Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-57
(Formerly Sec. 19-347r). Certificate of occupancy required for lawful occupation. Penalty for allowing occupancy without certificate.
Operative Text
(a) An apartment or dwelling unit in any structure containing three or more housing units in any municipality which adopts the provisions of this section by vote of its legislative body shall not be occupied for human habitation, after a vacancy, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the person designated by the legislative body of such municipality to administer the provisions of this section, certifying that such apartment or dwelling unit conforms to the requirements of the applicable housing ordinances of such municipality and this chapter. No provision of this section shall apply to any structure occupied by the owner thereof and containing three or less housing units. No provision of this section shall be construed to prohibit human occupancy of such apartment or dwelling unit during the pendency of an application for such certificate. (b) Any person aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate of occupancy may appeal to the superior court for the judicial district within which the structure is located. Such appeal shall be privileged. (c) Any owner or lessor who recovers rent for the occupation of any apartment or dwelling unit for which a certificate of occupancy has not been obtained prior to the rental thereof in violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than twenty dollars per day for not more than two hundred days for such period of unlawful occupation. (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any structure which has been constructed or substantially reconstructed within the ten-year period immediately before the date such certificate of occupancy would otherwise be required under this section.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-57, municipalities in Connecticut may adopt a rule requiring that apartments and dwelling units in buildings with three or more housing units obtain a certificate of occupancy before being re-occupied after a vacancy. The certificate, issued by a locally designated official, confirms that the unit meets applicable housing ordinances and state chapter requirements. Owner-occupied buildings with three or fewer units are exempt, as are structures built or substantially reconstructed within the past ten years, and occupancy during a pending application is not prohibited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-57 places the compliance burden squarely on owners and lessors in municipalities that have adopted this provision: before collecting rent on a unit that has been vacant, a compliant operator secures a valid certificate of occupancy from the locally designated administrator confirming the unit meets housing standards. Operators who collect rent without that certificate risk civil penalties of up to $20 per day for up to 200 days of unlawful occupation. Landlords managing buildings constructed or substantially reconstructed within the last ten years, or owner-occupied buildings with three or fewer units, should verify whether their property qualifies for one of the statutory exemptions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-57 gives tenants in participating municipalities a basis to question whether their unit was lawfully rented after a vacancy without a required certificate of occupancy. If a landlord collected rent without obtaining that certificate, the statute exposes them to civil penalties, and tenants may be able to raise the absence of a certificate as a relevant fact in housing-related proceedings. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to contact their local municipal housing office, a tenant-rights organization, or consult an attorney to understand what options may be available.
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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