Connecticut Short-Term Rental Laws (2026)
Connecticut regulates short-term rentals primarily at the state level — below is the verified statewide rule set: whether Airbnb-style rentals are legal, what registration or permits apply, the lodging taxes owed, and how the rules are enforced. Each fact is quoted from official sources and stamped with the date we last verified it.
Connecticut has no statewide short-term rental permit or registry — regulation is left entirely to towns, and there is no state preemption: PA 24-143, Sec. 7 (effective October 1, 2024) expressly authorizes any municipality to adopt an ordinance licensing and regulating STRs. The state's 15% room occupancy tax applies to rentals of 30 consecutive days or less, and booking platforms ('short-term rental facilitators' like Airbnb and Vrbo) must collect and remit it, while hosts must register with DRS and collect on direct bookings. A 2026 bill to create a statewide STR registry (HB 5536) died without a House vote when the session adjourned in May 2026.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 6 official sources. How we verify data
Connecticut statewide STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Unregulated |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~15% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | There is no state STR enforcement regime; enforcement of STR rules happens at the municipal level (zoning enforcement officers or officials designated by local ordinance, with citations typically around $250 subject to the CGS 7-152c municipal citation hearing process). |
| Current rules effective | 2024-10-01 |
State law & local authority
Zoning and land-use control of STRs is entirely municipal. PA 24-143, Sec. 7 (effective October 1, 2024) expressly authorizes any municipality, by vote of its legislative body, to adopt an ordinance requiring licensure of STR properties and regulating their operation and use — confirming local authority rather than preempting it. As of early 2024 the Office of Legislative Research had identified 12 towns regulating STRs by ordinance or zoning code (e.g., Stonington, Simsbury, Greenwich, Hartford); hosts must check their own town's rules.
State-level taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut room occupancy tax (state)15% on short-term home rentals, hotels, motels, and lodging houses (11% for bed and breakfast establishments) for occupancy of 30 consecutive calendar days or less; tax stops on the 31st consecutive day. Since October 1, 2019 (PA 19-117, Secs. 329-330), 'short-term rental facilitators' (platforms facilitating at least $250,000 in prior-12-month sales, e.g., Airbnb/Vrbo) must collect and remit for the rentals they facilitate; operators remain the retailer for direct bookings and must register with DRS and collect on those. Rental contracts of at least 90 consecutive days are exempt, as are unfurnished rentals. Connecticut has no local-option lodging taxes. | 15% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
There is no state STR enforcement regime; enforcement of STR rules happens at the municipal level (zoning enforcement officers or officials designated by local ordinance, with citations typically around $250 subject to the CGS 7-152c municipal citation hearing process). DRS enforces room occupancy tax registration, collection, and filing (Form OP-210).
Statewide sources
- CT DRS Special Notice SN 2019(9), Room Occupancy Tax on Short-Term Rentalsretrieved July 20, 2026
- CT Department of Revenue Services — Room Occupancy Tax Informationretrieved July 20, 2026
- Public Act No. 24-143 (House Bill No. 5474), Sec. 7 — municipal STR licensure authorizationretrieved July 20, 2026
- OLR Research Report 2026-R-0025, Recent Connecticut Legislation on Short Term Rental Properties (Jan. 20, 2026)retrieved July 20, 2026
- OLR Research Report 2024-R-0044, Municipal Regulation of Short-Term Rentals in Connecticut (Feb. 15, 2024)retrieved July 20, 2026
- CGA Bill Status — HB 5536 (2026), An Act Establishing a State Short-Term Rental Registryretrieved July 20, 2026
City-level coverage in Connecticut
We haven't published city-level rule pages for Connecticutyet — statewide rules above are the operative layer we've verified. Cities may still impose zoning, business-license, or tax requirements on top. Request coverage for a specific Connecticut city with a Pro account.
Compare every state at once in short-term rental laws by state or track Connecticut rule changes on the change tracker.
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations change frequently — verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating. HOA and condo rules may prohibit short-term rentals regardless of city law.