Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-9a
Prohibitions re discrimination against prospective or existing tenant for conviction related to cannabis possession; possession or consumption of cannabis; drug tests. Exceptions.
Operative Text
(a) As used in this section, “tenant”, “landlord” and “dwelling unit” have the same meanings as provided in section 47a-1. Except as provided in this section, a landlord or property manager may not refuse to rent to a prospective tenant or an existing tenant, or otherwise discriminate against a prospective tenant or an existing tenant, based on a past conviction for possession of a cannabis-type substance under section 21a-279a or for a past conviction for possession of four or fewer ounces of cannabis plant material, and any equivalencies and combinations thereof, pursuant to subsection (i) of section 21a-279a in any other jurisdiction. (b) Except as provided in this section, in the case of the rental of a dwelling unit, a landlord or property manager may not prohibit the possession of cannabis or the consumption of cannabis, except a landlord or property manager may prohibit smoking of cannabis or use of an electronic cannabis device or cannabis vapor product, as such terms are defined in section 19a-342a. (c) A landlord or property manager may not require a tenant to submit to a drug test. (d) The provisions of this section do not apply if: (1) The tenant is a roomer who is not leasing the entire residence; (2) The residence is incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or similar service; (3) The residence is a transitional housing or sober living facility; or (4) Failing to prohibit cannabis possession or consumption or failure to require a drug test would violate federal law or regulations or cause the landlord to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-9a, Connecticut law generally bars landlords and property managers from refusing to rent to someone—or otherwise discriminating against them—because of a past conviction for small-amount cannabis possession. The law also generally prohibits landlords from banning tenants from possessing or consuming cannabis in a dwelling unit, though landlords may still prohibit smoking cannabis or using electronic cannabis devices. Mandatory drug testing of tenants is not permitted, though several exceptions apply, including for sober living facilities, certain federally assisted housing, and situations where federal law or regulations would be violated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-9a means that compliant landlords and property managers generally do not screen out applicants solely on the basis of qualifying past cannabis possession convictions, and do not include blanket lease clauses banning all cannabis possession or consumption in a unit. Operators may, however, include lease provisions prohibiting the smoking of cannabis or the use of electronic cannabis devices or vapor products. Landlords whose properties are subject to federal funding, licensing requirements, or other federal obligations should review whether the statutory exceptions—particularly the federal-law carve-out—apply to their specific housing programs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-9a provides Connecticut tenants with protections against being denied housing or discriminated against based on certain past cannabis possession convictions, and generally protects the right to possess and consume cannabis within a dwelling unit (though not to smoke it if a landlord prohibits that). Tenants who believe a landlord has violated these protections may consider filing a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with state housing law. Certain living arrangements—such as sober living facilities or federally subsidized housing—may fall under exceptions to these protections, so understanding which category a particular unit falls into can be relevant when exploring available options.
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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