How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43. The tenant has two days from the return date to appear, then five days to plead.

WhatConnecticut
CourtSuperior Court, Housing Session, for the judicial district.

Notes

Connecticut gives a nine-day grace period before rent is legally late, and requires mediation in some judicial districts. A stay of execution of up to six months is available to a tenant who applies.

Source

Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43 — last checked 2026-09-16.

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

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