Chittenden County itself does not regulate fences - Vermont counties have no zoning authority. Each town and city sets its own fence rules through its zoning bylaw or development ordinance under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 (Vermont Planning and Development Act). Burlington's Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO) requires zoning permits for fences and limits fences within clear sight triangles at corners and driveways to no more than 3 feet above curb height. South Burlington allows fences under 4 feet without a permit, requires a zoning permit for 4-8 ft fences, and Development Review Board approval above 8 feet. There is no statewide Vermont fence-height cap.
Vermont counties have no executive government and no zoning authority. Land-use regulation flows from 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 (the Vermont Planning and Development Act), which delegates zoning power to towns, cities, and incorporated villages. Each Chittenden County municipality has its own bylaw with distinct fence rules. Burlington regulates fences through its Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO). Under the CDO, fences require a zoning permit; in clear sight triangles at corner lots and driveways, fence height is capped at 3 feet above the height of the adjacent curb to preserve traffic visibility. The CDO also requires fences to be set back from the property line enough that the owner can maintain them without entering the neighbor's land, with the setback varying by fence style. South Burlington's Land Development Regulations exempt fences less than 4 feet tall from permit, require a zoning permit for fences 4 to 8 feet, and require Development Review Board (DRB) review above 8 feet, with extra restrictions in waterfront areas west of the Rutland Railway. Essex, Essex Junction, Williston, Winooski, Colchester, Shelburne, and Hinesburg each maintain separate fence height schedules - typically 4 ft front yard / 6-8 ft rear and side. Vermont has no statewide "spite fence" statute or maximum fence height; private boundary disputes are civil matters under common law, and 24 V.S.A. §3801 sets out the historic "sufficient fence" rules for livestock partition fences. Always check the underlying zoning district and any overlay (waterfront, historic, design review) before building.
Building a fence without a required zoning permit, or exceeding height/sight-triangle limits, can trigger a zoning enforcement notice from the town zoning administrator. Under 24 V.S.A. §4451, zoning violations carry penalties up to $200 per day in Vermont, and the town may seek injunctive relief in Environmental Court to compel removal or modification of the fence. Owners typically must apply for an after-the-fact permit (with elevated fees) or remove the non-compliant section. In Burlington specifically, the Department of Permitting and Inspections handles enforcement and can issue stop-work orders.
See how Chittenden County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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