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Burlington, VT Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Habitability statute
9 V.S.A. Sec. 4457
City rules
Chapter 21 sanitation
Enforcer
Burlington Code Enforcement
Tenant duty
Avoid attracting pests

Summary

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.

§ 4457. Landlord obligations; habitability

(a) Warranty of habitability. In any residential rental agreement, the landlord shall be deemed to covenant and warrant to deliver over and maintain, throughout the period of the tenancy, premises that are safe, clean, and fit for human habitation and that comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing, and health regulations.

(b) Waiver. No rental agreement shall contain any provision by which the tenant waives the protections of the implied warranty of habitability. Any such waiver shall be deemed contrary to public policy and shall be unenforceable and void.

(c) Heat and water. As part of the implied warranty of habitability, the landlord shall ensure that the dwelling unit has heating facilities that are capable of safely providing a reasonable amount of heat. Every landlord who provides heat as part of the rental agreement shall at all times supply a reasonable amount of heat to the dwelling unit. The landlord shall provide an adequate amount of water to each dwelling unit properly connected with hot and cold water lines. The hot water lines shall be connected with supplied water-heating facilities that are capable of heating sufficient water to permit an adequate amount to be drawn. This subsection shall not apply to a dwelling unit intended and rented for summer occupancy or as a hunting camp.

Source: Vermont Residential Rental ActView official code

Full Breakdown

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.

Violations & Fines

Burlington Code Enforcement orders, civil penalties under Ch. 14, and potential rental-license suspension for severe or repeated violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I withhold rent if my Burlington apartment has rats?
Vermont law allows specific remedies, but you must give written notice and follow 9 V.S.A. Section 4458 procedures before withholding.
Who pays for bed-bug treatment?
Generally the landlord, unless the lease and facts clearly show the tenant introduced the infestation.

Sources & Official References

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