A Resident's Guide to Burlington's Local Ordinances

Burlington, Vermont may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 13 tracked ordinances across 7 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Rental Property Rules

Source-of-Income Discrimination: Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act 9 V.S.A. Sec.

Also covered: Rent Control (permissive), Just Cause Eviction (moderate), Security Deposit Rules (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Burlington for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Noise Rules: Burlington short-term rental hosts must comply with citywide noise rules in Burlington Code of Ordinances Chapter 21, Section 21-13. Quiet hours run 10:00 p.m.

Also covered: Taxes & Fees (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Burlington for details.

Single-Use Items

Plastic Bag Rules: Vermont Act 69 of 2019 bans single-use plastic carryout bags at retail stores statewide, including Burlington. Stores must offer recycled paper or reusable bags, with a minimum charge per paper bag..

Also covered: Plastic Straw Rules (moderate), Polystyrene Foam Rules (strict). See the full single-use items guide for Burlington for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Burlington permits one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) by right on any lot containing an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, under Section 5.4.5 of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO). The ADU may be internal to the home, attached, or located in a detached accessory structure.

Environmental Rules

Vehicle Idling Restrictions: Vermont law (23 V.S.A. §1110) prohibits motor vehicle idling for more than five minutes in any sixty-minute period, applying statewide including throughout Burlington with limited exceptions for traffic, emergency, and temperature-control needs..

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Burlington Chapter 21 sanitation rules and Vermont's rental warranty of habitability under 9 V.S.A. Section 4457 require landlords to maintain rental units free of rodents and serious insect infestations..

Tobacco & Vaping

Tobacco Age Restrictions: Vermont raised the legal age to purchase tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and tobacco substitutes to 21 under 7 V.S.A. Section 1003.

What to Do With This Information

Think of this as a map of the regulatory landscape in Burlington. For any rule that directly affects a decision you are making, click through to the full ordinance page for penalty details and exceptions, and confirm with the city if the stakes are high.