Mushroom foraging laws in Connecticut

Summary

Connecticut law requires the DEEP commissioner to allow people to take mushrooms from DEEP-controlled land for personal use only, and the state is not liable for people who do. The statute applies despite DEEP's general rules on protecting plants. I found no official Connecticut rule on selling wild mushrooms.

Public land

Conn. Gen. Stat. 23-4(b) says that, despite DEEP's general regulations, the commissioner shall authorize any person to take mushrooms from any lands under the commissioner's control for personal use only. The state has no liability to people who take mushrooms there. Towns, water companies, land trusts and federal land set their own rules.

Permits

The statute says the commissioner shall authorize personal-use taking. It does not describe a permit or application process; ask DEEP.

Limits

Personal use only. The statute sets no numeric limit.

Selling

Taking on DEEP land is limited to personal use, so the statute does not cover picking mushrooms there to sell. I did not find an official Connecticut rule on selling wild mushrooms to restaurants or the public; ask the Department of Public Health Food Protection Program or your local health department.

Sources

• Conn. Gen. Stat. 23-4 - Taking of mushrooms (CT General Assembly, chapter 447)

Last verified: November 11, 2026