Chittenden County, VT Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

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.