Cal. Civ. Code § 8-68f-5
Tenant's Right to Use and Occupancy
Operative Text
(a) The lease shall provide that the tenant shall have the right to the exclusive use and occupancy of the dwelling unit by members of the household authorized to reside in the dwelling unit by the lease, including reasonable accommodation of a tenant’s guests in compliance with the landlord’s guest policy, if any. (b) The lease shall provide that the tenant shall use the dwelling unit as a primary residence for the tenant and the tenant’s household as identified in the lease, and not to use or permit its use for any other purpose. To the extent permitted by applicable law and with the prior written consent of the landlord, members of the household may engage in legal profit-making activities in the dwelling unit where the landlord has determined that such activities are incidental to the primary use of the dwelling unit as a residence by members of the household. (c) With the consent of the landlord, a foster child or a live-in aide may reside in the dwelling unit. The landlord may adopt reasonable policies concerning residence by a foster child or a live-in aide, and shall detail the circumstances under which the landlord’s consent will be given or denied. Under such policies, factors to be considered by the landlord may include: (1) Whether the addition of a new occupant may necessitate a transfer of the tenant household to another dwelling unit, and whether any other dwelling units are available; and (2) The landlord's obligation to make reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Connecticut regulation Conn. Agencies Regs. § 8-68f-5 establishes that a lease must guarantee tenants the exclusive right to use and occupy their dwelling unit, with guests permitted in line with any landlord guest policy. The unit must be used as the household's primary residence, and any profit-making activity inside the unit requires both legal authorization and the landlord's prior written consent. The provision also addresses how foster children and live-in aides may be added to a household, requiring landlord consent while obligating landlords to consider reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Conn. Agencies Regs. § 8-68f-5, compliant operators include lease language that explicitly grants tenants exclusive use and occupancy of their unit and specifies any guest policy in writing. Landlords who permit profit-making activities in a unit document that consent in writing and confirm the activity is incidental to residential use. When a tenant requests to add a foster child or live-in aide, operators maintain written policies that detail the criteria for granting or denying consent, including consideration of unit transfer needs and reasonable accommodation obligations for persons with disabilities.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Agencies Regs. § 8-68f-5 gives tenants the right to exclusive use and occupancy of their dwelling unit, meaning a landlord's lease must reflect that right and cannot arbitrarily restrict it. If a tenant wishes to have a live-in aide or foster child reside in the unit, the landlord is required to have a written policy explaining when consent will be given or denied, and must factor in reasonable accommodation for disabilities. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision are not being honored may raise the issue as a defense in a housing proceeding, file a complaint with the relevant Connecticut housing authority, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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