Do you need a license to be a property manager in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, managing or renting property for others for pay is real estate work that needs a license: the real estate salesperson license, issued by the Connecticut Real Estate Commission. The law exempts some staff employed by a property owner or a licensed broker, such as on-site or leasing employees doing limited tasks. The exact wording, with any exceptions, is below.

Managing property for others"(15) “Engage in the real estate business” means to, while acting for another and for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, negotiate for or offer, or attempt to list for sale, sell, exchange, buy or rent, an estate or interest in real estate ... (a) No person shall act as a real estate licensee without a license issued by the commission or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, unless exempt under this chapter." official source
On-site and employee exemptions"(1) Any person who as owner or lessor performs any of the acts enumerated in section 20-311 , with reference to property owned, leased or sought to be acquired or leased by the person, or to the person's regular employees who live at such property and are employed as on-site residential superintendents, janitors or custodians, with respect to the property so owned or leased or sought to be acquired or leased when such acts are performed in the regular course of, or incident to, the management of such property and the investment therein;" "(6) any employee of any nonprofit housing corporation that (A) has been certified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and manages a housing project, or (B) manages a housing project assisted in whole or in part by the federal government pursuant to Section 8 of The United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended from time to time, while such employee is performing duties in the regular course of, or incidental to, the management of such housing project;" "(10) any leasing agent who is solely engaged in leasing activities authorized under this chapter; and (11) any person who is employed by a broker to perform clerical services, which person shall not negotiate the terms of an agreement, list a property unless on behalf of a real estate licensee, open or be listed as a signatory on a broker's escrow or trust account or sell, buy or lease real property for another person for compensation. (1953, S. 2340d; P.A. 84-63, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-319; P.A. 88-329, S. 14, 15; P.A. 90-332, S. 30, 32; P.A. 91-229, S. 16, 19; P.A. 92-12, S. 111; 92-174, S. 3; P.A. 93-354, S. 24, 54; P.A. 94-36, S. 41, 42; P.A. 9" "(11) any person who is employed by a broker to perform clerical services, which person shall not negotiate the terms of an agreement, list a property unless on behalf of a real estate licensee, open or be listed as a signatory on a broker's escrow or trust account or sell, buy or lease real property for another person for compensation." official source
Leasing agents"(18) “Leasing agent” means any individual, other than a real estate licensee, who (A) acts as an agent for a principal for a commission, fee or other valuable consideration, and (B) engages in leasing or renting activity, including, but not limited to, (i) collecting security deposits, (ii) offering or attempting to negotiate a rental, or (iii) collecting, offering or attempting to collect rent for the use of real estate; ... No leasing agent shall engage in the real estate business except for leasing or renting real property that is exclusively used for residential occupancy. Leasing agents shall not engage in any activity that requires a real estate broker's or real estate salesperson's license, including, but not limited to, selling, offering, listing, negotiating, referring or showing for sale, entering into lease-to-own agreements or leasing commercial real estate. A leasing agent shall be employed by a development owner. ... (10) any leasing agent who is solely engaged in leasing activities authorized under this chapter;" official source
Community association managersCommunity association manager certificate of registration (and manager trainee) (Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection): "no person shall (1) hold himself or herself out to be a community association manager or a community association manager trainee, or (2) engage in providing association management services, without first obtaining a certificate of registration as provided in sections 20-450 to 20-462 , inclusive. (b) A community association manager trainee may, for a period not to exceed six months, engage in association management services, so long as: (1) The community association manager trainee is directly supervised by, and acts under the direction of, a community association manager who holds a valid certificate of registration and who shall be liable f" official source
Licensing agencyConnecticut Real Estate Commission (within the Department of Consumer Protection) official source
CredentialReal estate salesperson license (or real estate broker license) official source

Checked against official Connecticut sources on Oct 27, 2026. This is not legal advice: rules change and exemptions depend on who employs you, so confirm with the licensing agency. This page lists only what we could confirm on an official page.

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