Connecticut Security Deposit Return Law & Letter
In Connecticut, the deposit and an itemized statement are generally due within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). Build the letter below — deductions listed line by line and the refund math done.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) — the deadline to return the deposit and send the itemized statement
Connecticut provides for the deposit’s return within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). Its shortest count, 15 days, is on the short side — 3 of the 26 states verified here allow less time, and 21 allow more.
| Tenancy ends | 21 days — if counted from termination of the tenancy | 15 days — if counted from receiving the tenant's written forwarding address — the later of the two governs |
|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | February 21, 2026 | February 15, 2026 |
| April 15, 2026 | May 6, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
| July 31, 2026 | August 21, 2026 | August 15, 2026 |
| November 30, 2026 | December 21, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
What the Connecticut letter has to contain
- Every deduction on its own line. Connecticut requires an itemized statement rather than a lump sum (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)).
- The arithmetic, shown. Deposit held, each deduction, and the balance refunded or still owed — so nothing has to be taken on trust.
- Where the refund went. The forwarding address you sent it to, and how.
Proving you sent it in time
The deadline is about when the letter left, and in a dispute that is the fact in question. Email gives you a timestamp for nothing; certified mail gives you a receipt. Either beats posting it second class and hoping. Whatever you use, keep the copy you sent — a Connecticut deadline you met but cannot evidence is not much better than one you missed.
Working out what you can defensibly deduct is a separate job from writing the letter — that lives on the Connecticut deduction page, which prorates each item by its remaining useful life.
Other states: Florida · Georgia · Illinois · All states
Connecticut rule last checked 2026-08-13 against Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2). General information, not legal advice — verify the current statute before you rely on it.
Everything else we’ve researched about Connecticut
Same state, the problems either side of this one. Each carries its own statute and the date we last checked it.
- Connecticut rent late fees & grace periodWhat may be charged when rent is late, and the notice to send.
- Connecticut notice to pay rent or quitHow many days' notice before a nonpayment filing, counted on a calendar.
- Connecticut deposit demand letterFor the tenant: whether the landlord is late, and by how many days.
- Connecticut deposit deduction rulesWhat may fairly come out of a deposit, prorated by useful life.
- Connecticut emergency plan rulesDrill frequency, filings, prescribed forms and retention, cited.
Questions people ask
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?
- In Connecticut, the security deposit and an itemized statement of any deductions are generally due within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). Missing the deadline can forfeit the right to withhold and expose the landlord to added damages. Confirm the current statute for your situation.
- Do deductions have to be itemized?
- Yes — in nearly every state a landlord must provide an itemized statement listing each deduction, not a vague lump sum. This generator lists each deduction on its own line with an amount and does the refund math.
- Is the letter generator free?
- Yes — free, no signup. It itemizes deductions, does the refund math, cites the state deadline, and can email the PDF so the timestamp documents timely delivery.