Licensing
How Connecticut Licenses Private Investigators
Connecticut regulates investigators under Chapter 534 of the General Statutes. Section 29-153 says no person may engage in, or solicit business as, a private detective without a license from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The program is handled by the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit of the Division of State Police. Section 29-152u defines private detective work broadly, including investigating crimes or civil wrongs, surveillance and background investigations.
Connecticut has a second layer. Under Section 29-156a, a licensee must apply to register each private investigator it hires immediately upon hiring, with fingerprints and a background check. For a client, that means confirming both the business license and the individual investigator's registration with the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, rather than relying on a license number alone.
Courts
How Connecticut Courts Are Organized
Connecticut has no county government, and its trial courts are run by the state. The Superior Court hears almost every kind of case and is organized into 13 judicial districts. Judicial district courthouses generally handle civil cases, family matters and the most serious criminal cases, while geographical area courts handle most criminal arraignments and motor vehicle cases. Juvenile matters are heard at separate locations, and wills, estates and guardianships go to the separate probate courts.
Communities
Connecticut Communities With a Private Investigator Page
Every Connecticut community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).
| Community | Planning region | Population (2024 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 151,599 |
| Stamford | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 139,134 |
| New Haven | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 137,562 |
| Hartford | Capitol Planning Region | 122,129 |
| Waterbury | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 115,908 |
| Norwalk | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 93,661 |
| Danbury | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 88,692 |
| New Britain | Capitol Planning Region | 75,871 |
| Fairfield | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 65,300 |
| Greenwich | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 64,594 |
| West Hartford | Capitol Planning Region | 64,184 |
| Bristol | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 62,195 |
| Hamden | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 61,510 |
| Meriden | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 60,849 |
| Manchester | Capitol Planning Region | 59,948 |
| West Haven | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 55,379 |
| Stratford | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 53,610 |
| East Hartford | Capitol Planning Region | 51,127 |
| Middletown | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 48,616 |
| Wallingford | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 44,389 |
| Southington | Capitol Planning Region | 44,197 |
| Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 42,805 |
| Enfield | Capitol Planning Region | 41,140 |
| Norwich | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 39,993 |
| Groton (town) | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 38,762 |
| Trumbull | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 38,073 |
| Torrington | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 35,673 |
| Glastonbury | Capitol Planning Region | 35,553 |
| Naugatuck | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 32,116 |
| Newington | Capitol Planning Region | 31,692 |
| Vernon | Capitol Planning Region | 30,895 |
| Cheshire | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 30,610 |
| Windsor | Capitol Planning Region | 29,658 |
| New Milford | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 28,745 |
| Branford | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 28,448 |
| Farmington | Capitol Planning Region | 28,189 |
| New London | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 28,081 |
| Newtown | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 28,029 |
| Mansfield | Capitol Planning Region | 27,996 |
| Westport | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 27,996 |
| East Haven | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 27,953 |
| Wethersfield | Capitol Planning Region | 27,372 |
| South Windsor | Capitol Planning Region | 27,062 |
| Simsbury | Capitol Planning Region | 25,353 |
| Ridgefield | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 25,300 |
| North Haven | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 24,844 |
| Windham | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 24,105 |
| Darien | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 22,528 |
| Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 22,497 |
| Guilford | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 22,264 |
| Bloomfield | Capitol Planning Region | 22,198 |
| Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 21,490 |
| Rocky Hill | Capitol Planning Region | 21,373 |
| New Canaan | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 21,160 |
| Berlin | Capitol Planning Region | 20,646 |
| Southbury | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 20,342 |
| Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 19,910 |
| Monroe | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 19,269 |
| Wilton | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 19,255 |
| Ansonia | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 19,195 |
| Avon | Capitol Planning Region | 19,106 |
| East Lyme | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 19,004 |
| Stonington | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 18,782 |
| Brookfield | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 18,186 |
| Killingly | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 18,093 |
| Montville | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 17,913 |
| Plainville | Capitol Planning Region | 17,757 |
| Madison | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 17,688 |
| Seymour | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 17,139 |
| Ellington | Capitol Planning Region | 16,585 |
| Wolcott | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 16,511 |
| Suffield | Capitol Planning Region | 15,964 |
| Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 15,752 |
| Ledyard | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 15,575 |
| Plainfield | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 15,315 |
| Tolland | Capitol Planning Region | 14,739 |
| Orange | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 14,431 |
| Cromwell | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 14,388 |
| New Fairfield | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 13,651 |
| North Branford | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 13,551 |
| Clinton | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 13,467 |
| Oxford | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 13,264 |
| East Hampton | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 13,109 |
| Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 12,915 |
| Windsor Locks | Capitol Planning Region | 12,643 |
| Coventry | Capitol Planning Region | 12,445 |
| Plymouth | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 11,879 |
| Granby | Capitol Planning Region | 11,751 |
| Stafford | Capitol Planning Region | 11,692 |
| Griswold | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 11,683 |
| East Windsor | Capitol Planning Region | 11,301 |
| Somers | Capitol Planning Region | 10,905 |
| Old Saybrook | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 10,689 |
| Weston | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 10,490 |
| Winchester | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 10,309 |
| Canton | Capitol Planning Region | 10,273 |
| Groton | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 10,160 |
| Woodbury | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 9,960 |
| Burlington | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 9,804 |
| Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 9,573 |
| Thompson | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 9,513 |
| Portland | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 9,478 |
| Putnam | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 9,407 |
| Hebron | Capitol Planning Region | 9,254 |
| Woodbridge | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 9,130 |
| East Haddam | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 9,061 |
| Redding | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 8,830 |
| Haddam | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 8,806 |
| Brooklyn | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 8,708 |
| Woodstock | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 8,434 |
| Litchfield | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 8,333 |
| Middlebury | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 8,025 |
| Easton | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 7,815 |
| Old Lyme | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 7,721 |
| Thomaston | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 7,566 |
| Durham | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 7,230 |
| Lebanon | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 7,141 |
| Westbrook | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 6,918 |
| Essex | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 6,847 |
| New Hartford | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 6,710 |
| Killingworth | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 6,284 |
| Beacon Falls | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 6,271 |
| Marlborough | Capitol Planning Region | 6,192 |
| Harwinton | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 5,688 |
| Willington | Capitol Planning Region | 5,609 |
| Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | 5,359 |
| Bethany | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 5,324 |
| East Granby | Capitol Planning Region | 5,278 |
| Canterbury | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 5,222 |
| North Stonington | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 5,197 |
| Bolton | Capitol Planning Region | 4,895 |
| Preston | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,855 |
| Deep River | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 4,483 |
| Pomfret | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,355 |
| Salem | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,326 |
| Salisbury | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 4,279 |
| Middlefield | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 4,274 |
| Danielson | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,264 |
| Ashford | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,263 |
| Lisbon | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,249 |
| Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 3,748 |
| Washington | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 3,721 |
| Barkhamsted | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 3,717 |
| Sterling | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,694 |
| Sherman | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 3,601 |
| Jewett City | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,464 |
| Bethlehem | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 3,449 |
| Goshen | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 3,265 |
| North Canaan | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 3,220 |
| Andover | Capitol Planning Region | 3,177 |
| Kent | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 3,084 |
Read the full Connecticut investigator guide
Neighboring states: Massachusetts · New York · Rhode Island
How this service works
Investigator Consulting in Connecticut
Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In Connecticut, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license Connecticut requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.
FAQ
Questions About Finding an Investigator in Connecticut
Which Connecticut communities have their own page?
Every incorporated Connecticut city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 151 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.
Is Delator Group licensed in Connecticut?
No. In Connecticut, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed Connecticut investigators who contract with you directly.
Who licenses private investigators in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 534, Sections 29-152u to 29-161. Anyone in the business of private detective work needs a license from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and every investigator a licensee hires must be registered.
How do I check an investigator's Connecticut license?
Ask for the license number and the investigator's registration, then confirm both with the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
Is Connecticut a one-party or two-party consent state?
It depends on the type of conversation. Recording a private phone call generally requires the consent of, or notice to, all parties under Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 52-570d. The criminal eavesdropping law for in-person conversations generally turns on one party's consent. The safest course is to get everyone's consent and ask an attorney.