The rule in Connecticut
The small claims limit in Connecticut is $5,000. The rule is Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d); the Connecticut General Assembly, Chapter 870, § 51-15 puts it this way: “all actions claiming money damages not in excess of five thousand dollars”. The court that hears these cases: Superior Court small claims session.
Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Connecticut ranks 40th from the top. That is $5,000 below the median of $10,000. It is 2 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 20% of the $25,000 top figure. 9 other verified jurisdictions use the same $5,000 figure, including Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii and Louisiana.
Next door, Massachusetts allows $7,000, New York allows $10,000 and Rhode Island allows $5,000. New York goes $5,000 further, so a dispute worth $10,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Connecticut.
Worked check against the $5,000 figure: a $2,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $2,500 of room; a claim of exactly $5,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $5,001 is $1 over.
The source checked for Connecticut does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.
Libel and slander actions are excluded. Claims up to fifteen thousand dollars are allowed for loss from home improvement work by a registered contractor or a new home construction contract (§ 51-15(d)(2)).
In a tenant's action to recover a security deposit under § 47a-21, the court may award the statutory damages and costs even if the total exceeds the limit.
Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Connecticut caps deposits at 2 months' rent (1 month for a tenant 62 or older) (deposit rules), so a claim for a full deposit stays under the $5,000 limit whenever the monthly rent is $2,500 or less.
Source: Connecticut General Assembly, Chapter 870, § 51-15 · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d) · last checked October 21, 2026.
Where the case goes
A claim within the limit is filed with the Superior Court small claims session. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.
Questions
What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?
$5,000, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d). Checked October 21, 2026.
Do interest and costs count toward the Connecticut limit?
The wording quoted from the source (“all actions claiming money damages not in excess of five thousand dollars”) does not address it; the court clerk can say how the court counts them.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Connecticut?
The source checked does not publish a statewide fee; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts it.