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.
Vermont's implied warranty of habitability, 9 V.S.A. Section 4457, makes residential landlords legally responsible for keeping rental units fit for human habitation, including freedom from significant rat, mouse, cockroach, or bed-bug infestations. Burlington layers Chapter 21 of the city code on top, addressing sanitation conditions and authorizing Code Enforcement to issue correction orders. The city's rental-housing inspection program checks for harborage conditions such as gaps in siding, broken screens, and missing exterior door sweeps. Tenants are responsible for not creating conditions that attract pests, but persistent infestation in shared walls or building systems is the landlord's duty to address.
Burlington Code Enforcement orders, civil penalties under Ch. 14, and potential rental-license suspension for severe or repeated violations.
See how Burlington's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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