EVERY DEADLINE
56 periods Connecticut law measures, gathered out of the guide and put in order, shortest first. Each one says what starts it, whose period it is, and what the law attaches to it. The shortest here is 12 hours. The longest is 6 years.
Every period on this page is stated by a section of the guide and carries that section's own authority. None of it is a calculation: a period that turns on facts, on service, or on a court's discretion is described the way the section describes it and no further.
56 deadlines
Traffic stops1
60 days
Showing the car after a window tint ticket
- From
- The infraction for an obstructed view
- Whose
- The driver
The driver removes what blocks the view and reports to the police department that issued the ticket within sixty days to show the vehicle complies, or risks impoundment after a second citation.
Being stopped3
48 hours
Copies of the warrant application and affidavits
- From
- The search
- Whose
- The police
Within forty eight hours of the search the owner, occupant or person named is given a copy of the application and every affidavit, unless a judge orders them held back for a set period.
72 hours
The longest hold for an emergency examination
- From
- Being taken to the hospital by the police
- Whose
- The hospital
The person is examined within twenty four hours and not held more than seventy two hours unless committed under the emergency certificate section.
10 days
Executing a search warrant
- From
- The warrant
- Whose
- The police
A search warrant other than one for a tracking device is executed within ten days and returned with a written inventory of what was seized.
Impaired driving3
6 business days
The officer's report after a DUI arrest
- From
- The arrest
- Whose
- The arresting officer
The officer prepares a sworn report of the refusal or the test result not later than six business days after the arrest and sends it to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
7 days
Asking for the license suspension hearing
- From
- The date the suspension notice is mailed
- Whose
- The driver
The driver schedules the hearing by contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles not later than seven days after the notice is mailed; a driver who does not has the suspension affirmed.
30 days
When the license suspension takes effect
- From
- The later of the arrest notice or the blood or urine results
- Whose
- The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
The suspension starts on a date certain not later than thirty days after that, and the hearing is held before it.
Court and money25
12 hours
A mandated reporter's report
- From
- Reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect
- Whose
- The mandated reporter
The oral or electronic report is made as soon as practicable but not later than twelve hours after the reporter has reasonable cause to suspect or believe it.
3 business days
Canceling a door to door sale
- From
- The transaction
- Whose
- The buyer
The buyer may cancel at any time before midnight of the third business day after the transaction, by sending the notice of cancellation.
4 business days
A public agency's answer to a records request
- From
- The request
- Whose
- The public agency
A denial is made in writing within four business days, ten for the requests the statute sets apart, and no answer in time counts as a denial.
7 days
The minutes of a public meeting
- From
- The meeting
- Whose
- The public agency
Minutes are available for public inspection not later than seven days after the session, and each member's vote within forty eight hours.
8 days before
The end of the pay period before payday
- From
- The regular pay day
- Whose
- The employer
The pay period paid on a regular pay day ends not more than eight days before that pay day, so wages are never held longer.
10 days before
The notice of intention to repossess
- From
- The retaking
- Whose
- The holder of the contract
The holder may serve the buyer, not less than ten days before retaking, a notice stating the default, what cures it and by when.
15 days
Redeeming repossessed goods
- From
- The retaking
- Whose
- The buyer
Goods not redeemed within fifteen days after the retaking are sold, publicly or privately, not sooner than fifteen and not later than one hundred eighty days after it.
30 days
Appealing to the Freedom of Information Commission
- From
- The denial
- Whose
- The person denied
The notice of appeal is filed with the Freedom of Information Commission not later than thirty days after the denial.
30 days
The decree on a small estate affidavit
- From
- The court sending the affidavit to the state
- Whose
- The Probate Court
The court issues no decree until thirty days after it sends a copy of the affidavit to the Department of Administrative Services.
60 days
Rescinding an acknowledgment of parentage
- From
- The acknowledgment taking effect
- Whose
- A signer
A signer may rescind before the earlier of sixty days after it took effect or the first court hearing about the child; after that, only fraud, duress or material mistake of fact.
60 days
The notice of a data breach
- From
- Discovery of the breach
- Whose
- The business that owns or keeps the data
Each affected resident is notified without unreasonable delay and not later than sixty days after the breach is discovered, unless federal law requires sooner.
90 days
Notice of an injury on a state highway
- From
- The injury
- Whose
- The injured person
Written notice of the injury, its cause, and the time and place is given to the Commissioner of Transportation within ninety days, or the action cannot be brought.
90 days
Suing after a firing for jury duty
- From
- The discharge
- Whose
- The employee
An employee fired for jury service may sue within ninety days for lost wages, up to ten weeks of them, and reinstatement.
300 days
A discrimination complaint to the commission
- From
- The act of discrimination
- Whose
- The person discriminated against
For an act on or after 1 October 2021, the written complaint under oath is filed with the commission within three hundred days.
1 year
A claim against the state
- From
- The day the claim accrues
- Whose
- The person with the claim
A claim is presented to the Claims Commissioner within one year after it accrues, and never more than three years from the act complained of.
1 year
The notice of a workers' compensation claim
- From
- The accident
- Whose
- The injured worker
A written notice of claim is given within one year of the accident, or three years from the first symptom of an occupational disease, or the case cannot go forward unless an exception applies.
2 years
Reporting a defect in a new car
- From
- Delivery of the new car
- Whose
- The buyer
A defect reported within two years of delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends first, is repaired even after the period ends.
2 years
Suing for injury or property damage caused by negligence
- From
- When the injury is sustained or discovered
- Whose
- The injured person
An action for injury to a person or property caused by negligence or malpractice is brought within two years of the injury or its discovery, and never more than three years from the act.
2 years
Suing over a defective state highway
- From
- The injury
- Whose
- The injured person
The action against the Commissioner of Transportation for a defective highway, bridge or sidewalk is brought within two years from the date of the injury.
3 years
Suing for an unfair or deceptive practice
- From
- The violation
- Whose
- The person who lost money or property
An action under the unfair trade practices act may not be brought more than three years after the violation occurred.
3 years
Suing for identity theft
- From
- When the violation is or should have been discovered
- Whose
- The person whose identity was used
The civil action for identity theft is brought within three years of when the violation was, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been, discovered.
3 years
Suing on a contract not in writing
- From
- The day the right of action accrues
- Whose
- The person suing
An action on an express contract not reduced to writing is brought within three years after the right of action accrues.
3 years
Suing on a tort
- From
- The act or omission complained of
- Whose
- The person suing
An action founded on a tort is brought within three years from the date of the act or omission complained of.
3 years
The notice for an occupational disease
- From
- The first symptom of the occupational disease
- Whose
- The injured worker
For an occupational disease the written notice of claim is given within three years from the first manifestation of a symptom.
6 years
Suing on a written contract or an account
- From
- The day the right of action accrues
- Whose
- The person suing
An action on an account or on a written, simple or implied contract is brought within six years after the right of action accrues.
Your home20
6 hours
The landlord's answer to a request for new locks
- From
- The tenant's request with the protective order
- Whose
- The landlord
Not later than six hours after the request, the landlord tells the tenant whether the landlord will change the locks or let the tenant do it.
24 hours before
The marshal's notice of the eviction
- From
- The date and time of the eviction
- Whose
- The state marshal
The marshal uses reasonable efforts to notify the tenant not less than twenty four hours before the eviction, and of the possibility that belongings will be sold.
2 business days
A key to the new locks for the landlord
- From
- The tenant changing the locks
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant who changes the locks gives the landlord a key not later than two business days after, except for good cause.
2 days
Appearing in the eviction case
- From
- The return day
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant who does not appear within two days after the return day may have judgment for possession entered on the landlord's motion, not later than the first court day after it.
48 hours
Heat or water restored before substitute housing
- From
- The landlord's breach
- Whose
- The landlord
If the landlord does not restore an essential service within forty eight hours after notice, the tenant may find reasonable substitute housing and the rent stops for that time.
48 hours
The locks changed under a protective order
- From
- The tenant's request
- Whose
- The landlord
A landlord who agrees to change the locks does so not later than forty eight hours after the request; if not, the tenant may change them.
3 days before
Serving the restraining order papers
- From
- The hearing
- Whose
- The applicant
The application, affidavit, any ex parte order and the notice of hearing are served on the respondent not less than three days before the hearing.
3 days before
The notice to quit before an eviction
- From
- The date the notice gives for leaving
- Whose
- The landlord
The written notice to quit is served by a proper officer at least three days before the date it gives the tenant to leave, and only then can the eviction case be brought.
5 days
Applying for a longer stay of eviction
- From
- The judgment
- Whose
- The tenant
Where the judgment was for a reason other than nonpayment, nuisance or illegal use, the tenant may apply within five days for a further stay of execution.
5 days
The stay after an eviction judgment
- From
- The judgment
- Whose
- The tenant
Execution is stayed for five days, Sundays and legal holidays not counted, and an appeal is taken within that time or not at all.
7 days
Weapons seized at a family violence call returned
- From
- The seizure
- Whose
- The law enforcement agency
A firearm, electronic defense weapon or ammunition seized at the scene is returned in its original condition not later than seven days after, unless the owner may not possess it or a court orders otherwise.
8 days
The hearing on a lockout complaint
- From
- The complaint to the judge
- Whose
- The court
The judge issues a summons at once for a hearing within eight days, served on the landlord six days before the day set.
9 days
The grace period for rent
- From
- The day rent is due
- Whose
- The tenant
A landlord may end a monthly rental agreement for nonpayment only if the rent is still unpaid nine days after it was due, and may charge a late fee only after that.
14 days
The hearing on a restraining order
- From
- The court's order on the application
- Whose
- The court
The hearing on an application for relief from abuse is held not later than fourteen days from the order, or seven days from an ex parte order where the respondent has guns.
15 days
Reclaiming belongings removed in an eviction
- From
- The eviction
- Whose
- The tenant
Belongings taken to the town's storage that are not reclaimed, with the storage paid, within fifteen days after the eviction are sold at public auction.
15 days
The deposit back after a forwarding address
- From
- Receiving the tenant's forwarding address in writing
- Whose
- The landlord
Where it comes later than the 21 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord has fifteen days from receiving the written forwarding address to deliver the deposit or the itemized balance.
21 days before
The code complaint before a tenant's repair case
- From
- Filing the tenant's case
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant suing to make the landlord meet the repair duties alleges having complained to the town's housing or health code agency at least 21 days before filing.
21 days
The deposit back after the tenancy ends
- From
- The end of the tenancy
- Whose
- The landlord
The landlord delivers the deposit with interest, or the balance with an itemized statement of damages, within 21 days, or 15 days after a written forwarding address if that is later, or owes twice the deposit.
30 days before
Ending a lease after family violence or sexual assault
- From
- The date the tenant intends to end the lease
- Whose
- The tenant
The tenant gives the landlord written notice at least thirty days before that date, with a statement under oath, and leaves without penalty for the rest of the term.
6 months
The protected period after a complaint
- From
- The tenant's good faith complaint, repair request or case
- Whose
- The landlord
The landlord may not bring an eviction, demand a rent increase or cut services within six months after the tenant's protected act.
Charges and penalties4
1 year
Prosecuting any other offense
- From
- The day the offense is committed
- Whose
- The prosecution
Every offense the section does not give a longer period or no limit is prosecuted within one year after it was committed.
2 years
A store's civil claim for shoplifting
- From
- The act complained of
- Whose
- The store
The store's civil action for its costs, the goods' value and punitive damages is brought within two years from the date of the act.
3 years
Suing over a hate crime
- From
- The act complained of
- Whose
- The person injured
The civil action for treble damages over a hate crime is brought within three years from the date of the act.
5 years
Prosecuting a crime punishable by more than a year
- From
- The day the offense is committed
- Whose
- The prosecution
An offense punishable by imprisonment of more than one year, other than those with no limit or a longer one, is prosecuted within five years.
MyRightz is legal education, not legal advice. Nothing here creates an attorney client relationship. Applying the law to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.