Rent control rules in Burlington, VT — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Vermont 9 V.S.A. Sec. 4451 allows only narrow local rent regulation, leaving Burlington without traditional rent control while permitting limited tenant protections under home-rule charter authority.
Vermont has not enacted broad statewide rent control nor explicit preemption, but case law and 9 V.S.A. Sec. 4451 leave municipalities with narrow authority that has been read to disallow general rent caps without legislative approval. Burlington has explored charter changes to authorize stabilization, with several non-binding ballot measures since 2021 directing the City Council to seek legislative authority. As of 2026 no rent stabilization regime is in force, and rent increases require only the standard 60-day written notice under Sec. 4455.
Rent increases without 60-day notice are unenforceable, and tenants may withhold the increased portion until proper notice is provided under Vermont law.
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 rent control rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.