Connecticut Eviction Notice for Nonpayment of Rent: Grace Period and Notice to Quit
In Connecticut rent is late nine days after it is due, and only then can a landlord serve a notice to quit with three full days. Here is how to count, how it is served and what late charges are allowed.
What is the Connecticut notice for unpaid rent?
If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay within nine days after the due date, or four days for a one-week tenancy, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement and proceed under the notice to quit and summary process sections (Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-15a). The notice to quit must be given at least three days before the termination or the quit date (47a-23(a)). The Connecticut eviction notice calculator counts the days.
How are the three days counted?
The Judicial Branch and the State Marshal Commission describe it as three full days between the day the notice is served and the last day specified for the tenant to leave, and the first and last days are not counted. If the notice is served on May 16, the earliest quit date is May 20 (State Marshal Commission manual). The tenant has until midnight of the quit date.
What must the notice say?
It must be in writing substantially in the statutory form: that the tenant is to quit possession or occupancy of the described premises, including the address and apartment, on or before a stated date, for the stated reason using the statutory language, with the date and place of signing. A notice may name an unknown occupant as “John Doe” or “Jane Doe” (47a-23(b)). The Judicial Branch publishes the form.
How is it served?
An attested copy is served by a proper officer on each lessee or occupant, or left at the tenant’s residence, and delivery may be made on any day of the week (47a-23(c)). A state marshal serves it in hand or at the abode. The landlord signs the notice and lists every adult occupant.
What happens to the month in which notice is served?
For a month-to-month or week-to-week tenancy of a dwelling unit, a notice to quit based on nonpayment ends the agreement for the month or week in which it is delivered, converts the tenancy to a tenancy at sufferance and is a proper basis for summary process even if delivered after that month or week (47a-23(d)).
Can the landlord accept payment after the notice?
A landlord may include a use and occupancy disclaimer: payments tendered after the quit date, or after the date the pretermination process is complete if later, are accepted for use and occupancy only and not for rent, with a reservation of rights to continue the eviction (47a-23(e)). Since January 1, 2026 the nonpayment ground does not apply if the landlord’s online payment system prevented payment within the grace period (47a-23(a)(1)(D)).
What can a landlord charge for late rent?
A late charge may not exceed the lesser of $5 per day, up to $50, or five percent of the delinquent rent (five percent of the tenant’s share if a government or charity pays part), and only one late charge per delinquent payment, and only after the grace period (47a-15a). A federal 30-day notice can apply to a covered dwelling (15 U.S.C. 9058(c)).
A worked example of the grace period
Rent due on the first of the month and unpaid through the tenth is within the nine-day grace period; a notice to quit can be served on the eleventh. A notice served on the eleventh with a quit date on the fifteenth gives three full days (the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth). The eviction notice calculator does the count for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an eviction notice for nonpayment in Connecticut?
A notice to quit with at least three full days, which can be served after the nine-day grace period.
When is rent late in Connecticut?
When it is unpaid nine days after it is due (four days for a one-week tenancy).
How do I count the three days?
Three full days between the day of service and the quit date; neither is counted.
Who serves the notice to quit?
A proper officer, usually a state marshal, in hand or at the tenant’s residence.
What is the most a landlord can charge for a late fee?
The lesser of $5 per day up to $50, or 5% of the delinquent rent, once per payment and after the grace period.
Official sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-15a: nonpayment of rent; late charges
- Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-23: notice to quit possession
- State Marshal Commission manual: evictions
A local landlord-tenant attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Connecticut statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Connecticut attorney.