Accessory Structures in Burlington, VT (2026)
2 verified accessory structures rules for Burlington, Vermont, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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. Maximum size is 30% of the gross floor area of the primary home or 900 square feet, whichever is greater. No additional off-street parking is required. Up to 650 square feet of an ADU footprint may be exempt from the lot coverage limit if storm water impacts are mitigated. Burlington's regulations align with Vermont's statewide ADU mandate at 24 V.S.A. Sec. 4412(1)(E), which requires every Vermont municipality to allow at least one ADU per single-family lot.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules (Burlington, VT)
Few RestrictionsBurlington ZA-20-03 Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are apartments located within or on the same property as a single-family, owner-occupied home. ADUs are often located above a garage, in a basement, or as a backyard cottage, and have been utilized widely in cities across the US and here in Burlington as a tool for older adults to remain in their homes as they age, to create housing for an elder or a dependent, a...
Shed Rules
Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO) Article 5 treats storage sheds as accessory structures incidental to a residential use. Sheds may encroach into rear and side yard setbacks if not taller than 15 feet, and accessory structure footprint is limited to a percentage of the principal structure's ground floor area. A zoning permit from the Department of Permitting and Inspections is required for new sheds.
Storage Shed Rules in Burlington
Some RestrictionsLooking for Chittenden County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burlington city rules.
Accessory Structures in Chittenden County →