(a) Except as provided in Section 14-7 or 14-7A, for appeals from municipal land use, historic, and resource protection agencies, the board or agency shall transmit and file the record in accordance with this section. For the purposes of this Section 14-7B, the term ‘‘papers’’ shall include any and all documents, transcripts, exhibits, plans, minutes, agendas, correspondence, or other materials, regardless of format, which are part of the return of record described in General Statutes § 8-8 (i), including additions to the record per § 8-8 (k).
Section 14-7B.Administrative Appeals from Municipal Land Use, Historic and Resource Protection Agencies; Records, Briefs and Scheduling; Withdrawal or Settlement
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule sets the record-transmission and briefing schedule for appeals from municipal land use, historic, and resource protection agencies, and requires court approval before such an appeal can be withdrawn or settled.
Full Text of Section 14-7B
(b) Within thirty days of the return date, the board or agency shall transmit a certified list of the papers in the record to all parties and shall make the existing listed papers available for inspection by the parties.
(c) The first time that the appeal appears on the administrative appeals calendar, the court and the parties will establish, or will set up a conference to establish, which of the contents of the record are to be transmitted, and will set up a scheduling order, which will include dates for the filing of the designated contents of the record, for the filing of appropriate pleading and briefs, and for conducting appropriate conferences and hearings. No brief shall exceed thirty-five pages without permission of the judicial authority. At the conference, the court shall also determine which, if any, of the designated contents of the record shall be transmitted to the parties and/or the court in paper format because such papers are either difficult to reproduce electronically or difficult to review in electronic format.
(d) The board or agency shall transmit to the court and all parties: (1) the certified list of papers in the record that was transmitted to the parties under subsection (b) of this section; and (2) certified copies of the designated contents of the record established in accordance with subsection (c).
(e) If any party seeks to include in such party’s brief or appendices papers the party deems material to its claim or position, which were not part of the designated contents of the record determined under subsection (c) but were on the certified list filed in accordance with subsection (b), such party shall file an amendment to the record as of right attaching such papers. In the event such an amendment to the record as of right is filed, the scheduling order may be adjusted to provide either party with additional time to file a brief or reply brief.
(f) No party shall include in such party’s brief or appendices, papers that were neither part of the designated contents of the record under subsection (c), nor on the certified list filed in accordance with subsection (b), unless the court grants permission to supplement the records with such papers pursuant to General Statutes § 8-8 (k).
(g) Disputes about the contents of the records or other motions, applications or objections will be heard on the administrative appeals calendar or as otherwise scheduled by the court.
(h) If a party is not in compliance with the scheduling order, the judicial authority may, on its own motion or on motion of one of the parties, and after hearing, make such order, including sanctions, as the ends of justice require.
(i) Any hearings to consider taxation of costs in accordance with General Statutes § 8-8 (i) shall be conducted after the court renders its decision on the appeal.
(j) No appeal under General Statutes §§ 8-8 or 22a-43 shall be withdrawn and no settlement between the parties to any such appeal shall be effective unless and until a hearing has been held before the Superior Court and such court has approved such proposed withdrawal or settlement. No decision that is appealed under General Statutes §§ 8-8 or 22a-43 shall be modified by settlement or stipulated judgment unless the terms of the settlement or stipulated judgment have been approved at a public meeting of the municipal agency that issued the decision. The proposed settlement shall be identified on the agenda of such meeting, which agenda shall be posted in accordance with the applicable requirements of General Statutes § 1-210 et seq., and the reasons for such approval shall be stated on the record during such public meeting of such agency and before the court. The court may inquire about the procedure followed by the agency, inquire of the parties whether settlement was reached by coercion or intimidation, and consider any other factors that the court deems appropriate. No notice of the court proceeding other than normal publication of the calendar and notice to the parties is required unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 14-7B works much like 14-7A but for land use appeals: within thirty days of the return date, the board or agency must transmit a certified list of the papers in the record to all parties and make those papers available for inspection. The first time the appeal appears on the administrative appeals calendar, the court and parties establish which parts of the record will be transmitted and set a scheduling order for the designated record, pleadings, briefs, and conferences or hearings. Briefs are capped at thirty-five pages absent permission from the judicial authority. The rule also addresses amendments to the record as of right, restrictions on citing undesignated material, sanctions for noncompliance with the scheduling order, and deferring cost-taxation hearings until after the appeal is decided.
Subsection (j) adds a distinct protection for appeals under General Statutes §§ 8-8 or 22a-43: no such appeal may be withdrawn, and no settlement between the parties is effective, until the Superior Court holds a hearing and approves it. A settlement or stipulated judgment that modifies the appealed decision also requires prior approval at a public meeting of the municipal agency that issued the decision, with the proposed settlement listed on that meeting’s posted agenda and the reasons for approval stated on the record both at the agency meeting and before the court. The court may ask about the agency’s procedure and whether the settlement resulted from coercion or intimidation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a zoning appeal be withdrawn without going to court?
No. Under Section 14-7B(j), an appeal under General Statutes § 8-8 or 22a-43 cannot be withdrawn, and any settlement is not effective, until the Superior Court holds a hearing and approves it.
Does the municipal agency have to approve a settlement too?
Yes, if the settlement or stipulated judgment modifies the decision under appeal. The terms must be approved at a public meeting, listed on the posted agenda, with the reasons for approval stated on the record.
How long does the agency have to transmit the certified record?
Within thirty days of the return date, the board or agency must transmit a certified list of the papers in the record and make those papers available for inspection.
What is the page limit for briefs in a land use appeal?
Thirty-five pages, unless the judicial authority grants permission to exceed it.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 14-7B). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: zoning appeal settlement approval Connecticutland use appeal record deadlinewithdrawing a zoning appeal CT8-8 appeal settlement hearingmunicipal land use appeal briefing schedule