Vermont law preempts most municipal firearms regulation under 24 V.S.A. section 2295, with limited exceptions for discharge ordinances within municipal boundaries.
Vermont's preemption statute, 24 V.S.A. 2295, reserves to the General Assembly the authority to regulate the possession, ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, registration, sale, and use of firearms and ammunition. Municipalities may not enact regulations conflicting with state law, but they retain narrow authority to regulate the discharge of firearms within their boundaries to address public safety concerns. The Vermont Supreme Court has interpreted the statute strictly, invalidating local ordinances that exceed discharge regulation. State-level laws govern background checks, large-capacity magazines, and waiting periods statewide.
Local ordinances conflicting with state preemption are unenforceable and may be challenged in court by affected gun owners or advocacy groups.
Burlington, VT
Burlington Code of Ordinances §21-13 sets citywide quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, during which noise plainly audible between apartments or houses is d...
Burlington, VT
Burlington's Comprehensive Development Ordinance limits fences in the First Lot Layer (front yard) to 4 feet and fences in Second and Third Lot Layers (side ...
Burlington, VT
Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO) Article 5 treats storage sheds as accessory structures incidental to a residential use. Sheds may encroa...
Burlington, VT
Burlington's short-term rental ordinance (Chapter 18, adopted 2022) requires hosts to disclose at registration the number of vehicles used by residents and g...
Burlington, VT
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....
Burlington, VT
Residential swimming pool barriers in Burlington are governed by the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code, adopted by the Vermont Division of Fire Safety un...
See how Burlington's local firearms preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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