Burlington restricts most short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, banning investor-owned dedicated STRs in most residential zones to protect long-term rental supply during a severe housing shortage.
Under CDO Sec. 5.4.5, hosts may operate Home Stay (host present) or Limited Home Rental (whole-home up to 30 nights per year while host is away) only at their declared primary residence, defined as the property occupied at least 270 days annually. Dedicated non-owner-occupied STRs are prohibited in most Residential Low Density and Residential Medium Density districts, though grandfathered units adopted before 2022 may continue with renewed registration. Documentation includes Vermont driver license, voter registration, and homestead declaration filed with the state.
Operating a non-primary STR in a restricted district triggers $500 daily fines, registration revocation, and zoning enforcement that can require restoration to long-term rental use.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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
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...
Burlington, VT
Burlington permits one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) by right on any lot containing an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, under Section 5.4.5 of the Burl...
Burlington, VT
Burlington Code Chapter 21 disorderly-house provisions allow Burlington Police to cite hosts and property owners for parties generating excessive noise, publ...
See how Burlington's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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