Is the Connecticut Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers may pay a fee to access the list for compliance scrubbing. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Connecticut DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Connecticut state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Yes — the Connecticut registry expressly covers text messages. Telemarketing texts to a registered number are violations on the same footing as voice calls.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Connecticut number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Connecticut state penalty: $11,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Connecticut you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Connecticut state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Connecticut

Connecticut Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does Connecticut have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Connecticut maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP); federal registry maintained by FTC administers it. Telemarketers calling into Connecticut must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Q: How do I register my phone number on the Connecticut Do Not Call list?

Register at https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/common-elements/consumer-facts-and-contacts/telemarketing. Registration is administered by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP); federal registry maintained by FTC and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$11,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Connecticut Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Connecticut runs its own DNC registry

Connecticut maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Connecticut must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Connecticut State Registry

Connecticut Do Not Call Registry (adopted federal NDNC)

Administered by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP); federal registry maintained by FTC

https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/common-elements/consumer-facts-and-contacts/telemarketing →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Yes

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Connecticut state list — details

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the federal NDNC Registry at least every 31 days. Connecticut law effectively prohibits cold calling without express written consent as of October 1, 2023.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteConn. Gen. Stat. § 42-288a et seq.

Connecticut adopted the federal National DNC Registry in place of its former state-specific list. Consumers previously registered on the state list are automatically protected. CRITICAL: Effective October 1, 2023, Connecticut passed SB 1058 — one of the strictest telemarketing laws in the country. It effectively PROHIBITS COLD CALLING by requiring express written consent before making telemarketing calls, even to numbers NOT on the DNC list. Within the first 10 seconds of any call, the telemarketer must identify themselves, state the purpose, and ask if the consumer wishes to continue. Penalties: up to $20,000 per violation. Permitted hours: 9am-8pm. No state telemarketer registration requirement exists, but compliance with the consent requirement is mandatory. Connecticut does NOT require a separate state registration fee.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Connecticut. Connecticut has a private right of action — you can recover $11,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Connecticut DNC enforcement actions

CT SB 1058 — Telemarketing statute modernization effective

telecommunications

Jun 2023

CT SB 1058 (signed June 2023) modernized the state's telemarketing laws — first update since 2015. Expanded statutes to cover text messages. Banned gateway VoIP providers from facilitating overseas scams. Allows enforcement against calls received by CT area codes regardless of origin. Restricted calling hours to 9 AM - 8 PM (tighter than federal). Requires prior express written consent for all telephonic sales calls. CT consumers received 471 million robocalls in 2022.

Source →

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

CT AG Tong sued Avid Telecom as part of 49-state coalition. Avid transmitted 24.5 billion calls (90%+ robocalls) despite 329 traceback notifications. CT among 16 states leading the Anti-Robocall Task Force. Important context: CT updated telemarketing statutes (SB 1058) in 2023 to cover text messages, ban gateway VoIP providers from facilitating overseas scams, and restrict calling hours to 9 AM - 8 PM.

Source →

Calling a registered Connecticut number costs telemarketers: $11,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Connecticut residents. If you operate outbound calls into Connecticut, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Connecticut DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

Stay Current

Weekly digest: what changed this week

New enforcement actions, statute updates, and rule changes in Connecticut — delivered once a week.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Powered by Brevo.

Telemarketers — need automated DNC scrubbing?

Catalyst Partners sets up automated DNC scrubbing across every state you operate in. Federal list, state lists, internal lists, on a schedule that keeps you legal.

Book a Compliance Call →

This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →