Connecticut Tiny Homes as Accessory Apartments (CGS 8-1a)

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 8-1a(b)(1), a tiny home is legally an "accessory apartment" only when it sits on the same lot as a principal dwelling of greater square footage, contains its own cooking facilities, and complies with (or is exempt from) the applicable building code, fire code and health and safety regulations. Connecticut's 2021 zoning reforms let such units be approved "as of right" (defined in Sec. 8-1a(b)(3)) unless a municipality opts out under Sec. 8-2o. Local zoning and building officials enforce siting, and the tiny home must pass State Building Code review before a certificate of occupancy issues.

A tiny home with no cooking facilities, one exceeding the principal dwelling's square footage, or one failing building, fire or health code review is not a lawful accessory apartment; the local building official can deny occupancy and order corrections.