Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-60
(Formerly Sec. 19-347u). Stay of penalty. Violation contested by owner.
Operative Text
(a) In any action for penalties under sections 47a-53, 47a-55 and 47a-58 to 47a-61, inclusive, the defendant may move at any time before the trial of the case for an order to stay the further accumulation of the per diem penalty from the day the action is commenced until the same is finally terminated by judgment or otherwise, including the time necessary for judicial review. The court shall grant the motion if the defendant shows to the satisfaction of the court that there is a substantial issue of fact or law concerning the existence of the violation charged. The court may impose such conditions on the granting of the motion as justice may require. (b) Nothing contained in said sections shall prevent an owner or other responsible person from contesting the finding of a violation by the enforcing agency, prior to the enforcing agency's action for the collection of penalties, by any means provided by law. In any such action or proceeding, the court may stay the further accumulation of the per diem penalty in the same manner and under the same conditions as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-60, when a property owner faces accumulating daily penalties under Connecticut's housing enforcement statutes, the law provides a mechanism to pause that accumulation while a legal dispute is pending. A court may grant a stay of the per diem penalty if the defendant demonstrates a substantial factual or legal question about whether the violation actually exists. Additionally, owners retain the right to contest a violation finding through any lawful means before the enforcing agency even initiates a penalty collection action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-60 gives property owners and other responsible parties two distinct opportunities to challenge housing violation findings and limit ongoing penalty exposure. A compliant operator facing a penalty action generally documents any genuine factual or legal disputes about the alleged violation and may file a motion before trial to pause the daily penalty accumulation while the case is resolved. Owners also typically explore contesting the violation at the agency level before any court action for penalties is filed, preserving their rights under both subsections of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-60 is primarily a procedural protection for property owners, but tenants benefit indirectly by understanding how the enforcement process works. When an owner successfully obtains a stay of per diem penalties, it means the enforcement action remains open and the underlying violation finding is still subject to review — the violation is not dismissed. Tenants who believe a housing violation affects their unit may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or Connecticut's housing enforcement agency to understand how a pending stay might affect the resolution of their complaint.
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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