Connecticut call recording law
Is Connecticut a one-party consent state?
Criminal law one-party; civil law all-party or notice
Partly. Connecticut’s criminal law covers only someone who is not on the call and records it without either party’s consent. A civil law lets a person sue when a private phone call is recorded without the consent of all parties, unless the recording party gives a verbal notice recorded at the start or uses a repeating warning tone (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d).
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 13 quoted facts from official pages
Connecticut at a glance
- Phone calls
- Criminal law one-party; civil law all-party or notice
- In-person conversations
- A different rule (see below)
- Criminal penalty
- Eavesdropping (wiretapping by a non-party without either party's consent, or overhearing a conversation one is not present at without any party's consent) is a class D felony: up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
- Lawsuits
- Any person harmed by a recording that breaks § 52-570d may sue in Superior Court for damages, costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee.
- Last checked
- October 13, 2026
The law
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d (civil action for illegal recording of private telephonic communications) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-187 (definitions: wiretapping, mechanical overhearing) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189 (eavesdropping: class D felony) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a, 53a-41 (felony prison terms and fines) (official source, opens in a new tab)
Penalties
- Criminal
- Eavesdropping (wiretapping by a non-party without either party's consent, or overhearing a conversation one is not present at without any party's consent) is a class D felony: up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
- Civil (lawsuits)
- Any person harmed by a recording that breaks § 52-570d may sue in Superior Court for damages, costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee.
In-person conversations
The criminal law treats in-person conversations the same way: mechanical overhearing is a crime only when it is done without the consent of at least one party, by a person who is not present (§ 53a-187). The civil law, § 52-570d, covers private telephone calls.
What this means for a business that records calls
Section 52-570d lists three ways to record a private phone call: the prior consent of all parties, given in writing or at the start of the recording; a verbal notification by the recording party that is recorded at the beginning and is part of the call; or an automatic warning tone repeated about every fifteen seconds.
Notices and warnings: Connecticut’s § 52-570d accepts a verbal notification by the recording party, recorded at the beginning of the call, or an automatic warning tone that repeats about every fifteen seconds.
Callers can be in any state. The state-by-state table compares every state's rule, and the disclosure generator writes a plain notice sentence such as “This call may be recorded.” Whether a notice is enough under Connecticut's law is a question for a lawyer licensed in Connecticut.
Recording notices on CallFlux numbers
CallFlux plays a recording notice to callers on every tracking number that records, before the call connects.
What the official sources say
Connecticut's civil statute bars recording a private telephone call unless one of its consent/notice conditions is met.
“No person shall use any instrument, device or equipment to record an oral private telephonic communication unless”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Option 1: prior consent of all parties, obtained in writing or on the recording.
“is preceded by consent of all parties to the communication and such prior consent either is obtained in writing or is part of”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
On-recording consent must be obtained at the start of the recording.
“and obtained at the start of, the recording”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Option 2: a verbal notification by the recording party, recorded at the beginning of the call.
“is preceded by verbal notification which is recorded at the beginning and is part of the communication by the recording party”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Option 3: an automatic warning tone repeated about every fifteen seconds.
“is accompanied by an automatic tone warning device which automatically produces a distinct signal that is repeated at intervals of approximately fifteen seconds”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
An aggrieved person may sue in Superior Court for damages.
“Any person aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of this section may bring a civil action in the Superior Court to recover damages”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Costs and a reasonable attorney's fee are recoverable.
“together with costs and a reasonable attorney's fee”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Criminal wiretapping is recording by someone other than the sender or receiver, without either one's consent (one-party rule).
“by a person other than a sender or receiver thereof, without the consent of either the sender or receiver”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Show 5 more facts
Mechanical overhearing of an in-person conversation is criminal only without the consent of at least one party, by someone not present.
“without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present thereat”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Eavesdropping means unlawfully engaging in wiretapping or mechanical overhearing.
“A person is guilty of eavesdropping when he unlawfully engages in wiretapping or mechanical overhearing of a conversation.”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Eavesdropping is a class D felony.
“Eavesdropping is a class D felony.”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
A class D felony carries a prison term of not more than five years.
“For a class D felony, a term not more than five years”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
The fine for a class D felony may not exceed $5,000.
“for a class D felony, an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars”
Source: cga.ct.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Connecticut call recording questions
Is Connecticut a one-party consent state?
Partly. Connecticut’s criminal law covers only someone who is not on the call and records it without either party’s consent. A civil law lets a person sue when a private phone call is recorded without the consent of all parties, unless the recording party gives a verbal notice recorded at the start or uses a repeating warning tone (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d).
What is the penalty for recording a call illegally in Connecticut?
Eavesdropping (wiretapping by a non-party without either party's consent, or overhearing a conversation one is not present at without any party's consent) is a class D felony: up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
What does Connecticut's law say about lawsuits over recorded calls?
Any person harmed by a recording that breaks § 52-570d may sue in Superior Court for damages, costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee.
Does Connecticut use the same rule for in-person conversations?
The criminal law treats in-person conversations the same way: mechanical overhearing is a crime only when it is done without the consent of at least one party, by a person who is not present (§ 53a-187). The civil law, § 52-570d, covers private telephone calls.
What do Connecticut's sources say about businesses that record calls?
Section 52-570d lists three ways to record a private phone call: the prior consent of all parties, given in writing or at the start of the recording; a verbal notification by the recording party that is recorded at the beginning and is part of the call; or an automatic warning tone repeated about every fifteen seconds.