Connecticut Small Claims Limit: $5,000 Standard, $15,000 for Contractors

The Three Limits

Connecticut doesn't have one small claims limit — it has three, depending on the type of claim.

General limit: $5,000. This applies to most disputes — unpaid invoices, property damage, breach of contract, consumer refunds. Codified at CGS § 51-15(d) and raised from $3,500 to the current figure under Public Act 05-42, effective October 2005.

Home improvement contractor limit: $15,000. This applies to claims for loss or damages caused by home improvement performed or offered by a contractor holding a certificate under CGS Chapter 400, or by a contract for new home construction with a contractor holding a certificate under Chapter 399a. Public Act 21-197, effective July 2022, created this exception. If the contractor does not hold the required certificate, the standard $5,000 cap applies.

Security deposit claims: may exceed $5,000. In a tenant action under CGS § 47a-21(g), the court may award the statutory damages under § 47a-21(d) and authorized costs even when their total exceeds the general $5,000 limit. A $4,000 deposit wrongfully withheld may support an $8,000 damages claim, plus any authorized costs.

What Counts Toward the Limit

The monetary ceiling covers only the principal damages you're seeking. Court costs and pre-judgment interest (up to 10% annually under CGS § 37-3a) are calculated separately and don't count against the cap.

You cannot split a single dispute into multiple lawsuits to stay under the limit. If a contractor owes you $7,000 and they're not a registered home improvement contractor, you have two choices: waive the amount above $5,000 and file in small claims, or sue for the full amount on the regular Superior Court civil docket.

If Your Claim Exceeds the Limit

Filing a claim above the statutory cap means you agree to waive everything over the ceiling. The court won't award $6,000 on a general claim just because you can prove that amount — the $5,000 cap is hard.

For many people, accepting the haircut still makes sense. The regular civil docket involves attorney fees, formal discovery, and months of additional proceedings. Getting $5,000 in small claims often costs less and arrives faster than chasing $7,000 through the full civil process.

Counterclaims Follow the Same Rules

If the defendant files a counterclaim, it's subject to the same limits. A counterclaim exceeding the applicable cap can trigger a transfer to the regular civil docket, which requires a $125 transfer fee and converts the case into formal litigation.

The Outdated $3,500 Figure

If you've seen $3,500 cited as Connecticut's small claims limit, that source is more than twenty years out of date. The increase to $5,000 took effect in October 2005. Double-check any legal information that still references the old number — the fees and forms may also be wrong.

Our Connecticut Small Claims Filing Guide includes a decision tree worksheet to verify your claim fits within the right limit category, plus step-by-step instructions for the entire filing process.

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