Vermont Ordinances (2026)

Vermont law requires every municipality with zoning to permit at least one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot as a permitted use, preempting local prohibitions. The HOME Act of 2023 further expanded ADU rights and limited local restrictions on size and parking.

Vermont's Residential Building Energy Standards and statewide adoption of the International Residential Code, including Appendix Q for tiny houses, set minimum construction standards for permanent tiny homes. Towns implement zoning placement, but construction standards apply uniformly statewide.

Vermont's animal cruelty law applies statewide and addresses neglect including hoarding situations. Under 13 V.S.A. § 352, depriving animals of adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care constitutes cruelty, with felony enhancements for aggravated cases.

Vermont's Right to Farm law shields agricultural operations following accepted practices from nuisance suits. State law preempts local restrictions on farm animals when the operation qualifies as a farm under Required Agricultural Practices (RAP) administered by the Agency of Agriculture.

Vermont state law governs dog licensing, rabies vaccination, and owner liability for damage. Title 20 requires annual licensing and authorizes municipalities to adopt leash and control ordinances, while strict liability applies to livestock damage caused by dogs statewide.

Vermont prohibits possession of unpermitted wild animals statewide under Fish & Wildlife regulations. Exotic species require permits from the Department of Fish & Wildlife, and many large carnivores, primates, and venomous reptiles cannot be kept as pets regardless of municipal rules.

Vermont prohibits intentional feeding of bears statewide and restricts deer feeding under Fish & Wildlife rules. State law preempts conflicting local ordinances and authorizes wardens to enforce bear-attractant removal orders to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.

Vermont licenses cannabis retailers and dispensaries through the Cannabis Control Board, and a town must affirmatively opt in to host retail cannabis establishments, but once opted in, state licensing and operational rules preempt many local controls.

Vermont state law authorizes adults 21 and older to cultivate a limited number of cannabis plants at their primary residence, and municipalities cannot ban personal home cultivation that complies with statewide possession and growing rules.

Commercial drone operations in Vermont are federally regulated under FAA Part 107, with Vermont law adding statewide privacy and law enforcement limits, while municipalities cannot directly regulate flight, airspace, or pilot certification.

Recreational drone operation in Vermont is governed primarily by FAA regulations, with state law limiting government surveillance use under 20 V.S.A. Section 4622 and providing privacy protections that apply uniformly across municipalities.

Vermont sets a statewide minimum wage under 21 V.S.A. 384 but does not preempt local minimum wage ordinances, allowing municipalities to set higher rates.

Vermont's Earned Sick Time Act under 21 V.S.A. 481 establishes statewide paid sick leave for most employees, with limited preemption of local mandates.

Vermont has no statewide predictive scheduling law and does not expressly preempt local scheduling ordinances, leaving municipalities limited regulatory authority.

Vermont uniformly regulates construction-site erosion and sediment control through the state Construction General Permit and Stormwater Management Rule, requiring approved erosion prevention plans on qualifying sites regardless of municipal ordinances.

Vermont requires every municipality to adopt flood hazard area bylaws meeting state and National Flood Insurance Program standards, and the Agency of Natural Resources directly regulates state-owned and certain critical development in mapped floodplains.

Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources administers a uniform statewide stormwater permit program covering construction, operational, and three-acre impervious surface sites, with rules that apply regardless of local ordinances under 10 V.S.A. Section 1264.

Vermont applies the state-adopted building code to residential and commercial swimming pools, requiring barriers, self-closing gates, and alarm features. These standards apply uniformly statewide through the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code.

Vermont does not impose statewide defensible-space brush clearance mandates, but disposal of cleared brush by burning requires a fire warden permit under 10 V.S.A. ยง 2645. Chipping and composting are unregulated alternatives applying universally statewide.

Vermont treats outdoor fire pits and recreational fires under the same statewide warden permit system in 10 V.S.A. ยง 2641-2647. Small contained cooking or warming fires generally do not require a permit, but open brush burning in a pit always does, regardless of municipality.

Vermont prohibits possession, sale, and use of consumer fireworks statewide except for permitted public displays under 20 V.S.A. ยง 3132. Only sparklers and certain novelties are exempt. Municipalities cannot authorize private consumer fireworks beyond what state law allows.

Vermont requires a permit from the town fire warden for any outdoor burning of natural wood debris under 10 V.S.A. ยง 2641-2647. The warden's permit system is statutory and applies in every municipality. Burning solid waste, plastics, or treated wood is prohibited statewide.

Vermont has adopted NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) statewide as part of the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code under 20 V.S.A. ยง 2731. The Division of Fire Safety enforces uniform tank siting, distance, and installation rules in every municipality.

Vermont's Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation may suspend outdoor burning statewide or regionally during periods of high wildfire danger under 10 V.S.A. ยง 2643. Town wardens enforce the suspension and may not override it locally.

Vermont permits concealed carry without a license for individuals legally allowed to possess firearms, a longstanding policy known as Vermont Carry.

Vermont law preempts most municipal firearms regulation under 24 V.S.A. section 2295, with limited exceptions for discharge ordinances within municipal boundaries.

Vermont permits open carry of firearms without a license for individuals legally allowed to possess firearms, subject to state and federal restrictions.

Vermont allows lawful firearm transport in vehicles without a permit, with state preemption under 24 V.S.A. 2295 barring local restrictions on vehicle carry beyond state law.

Vermont Department of Health licenses all mobile food vendors statewide under food service establishment rules. State licensing applies uniformly, while municipalities may regulate location, hours, and zoning. Health permits are required before any food sales to the public.

Vermont state law exempts certain low-risk home-produced foods from full commercial licensing, allowing residents to sell home-baked goods and similar products directly to consumers under state Agency of Agriculture rules that apply uniformly statewide.

Vermont state law licenses family child care homes through the Department for Children and Families and prohibits municipalities from using zoning to exclude state-registered or licensed home-based child care, treating it as a permitted residential use.

Vermont state law requires every municipality with zoning to permit residents to use a minor portion of their dwelling for home occupations customarily carried on in the home, limiting how strictly local bylaws can restrict legitimate home-based businesses.

Vermont does not impose a statewide E-Verify mandate on private employers or public contractors, leaving participation in the federal program voluntary under existing federal rules.

Vermont operates as a statewide sanctuary jurisdiction under 20 V.S.A. 4651 and following, requiring all law enforcement to follow the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Vermont's Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) prohibits disposal of food scraps in landfills statewide. All residents and businesses must compost or otherwise divert food waste from trash, applying uniformly across all municipalities without local opt-out authority.

Vermont municipalities cannot regulate aircraft operations or in-flight noise because federal law preempts the field. The FAA controls airspace, flight paths, and operational noise standards uniformly across Vermont under federal aviation statutes.

Vermont's Act 250 land use law requires industrial and commercial developments meeting jurisdictional thresholds to demonstrate they will not cause undue noise impacts. This statewide permit standard applies regardless of local noise ordinances.

Vermont state law uniformly governs how abandoned motor vehicles are identified, reported, removed, stored, and disposed of, with municipalities required to follow statutory procedures before towing, sale, or destruction by licensed salvage yards.

Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements Act establishes statewide grounds and notice periods for terminating tenancies, including nonpayment of rent, breach of rental agreement, and no-cause termination after specified notice. Municipalities cannot shorten or expand these statutory eviction protections.

Vermont's Act 76 of 2023 created a mandatory statewide rental housing registry administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. All landlords must register rental units annually, providing baseline data and habitability compliance information uniformly across the state.

Vermont law under 24 V.S.A. 4413 limits municipal zoning authority over accepted agricultural and silvicultural practices, preserving farming statewide.

Vermont's Right to Farm Act under 12 V.S.A. 5753 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when complying with Required Agricultural Practices.

Vermont requires short-term rental operators to disclose insurance coverage status to guests under Act 132 of 2024 and to comply with statewide habitability standards. Liability insurance is not mandated but operators must inform guests whether the rental is covered by homeowner, commercial, or platform-provided liability policies.

Act 132 of 2024 created a mandatory statewide short-term rental registry administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Every operator must register, meet baseline health and safety standards, and post the registration number in any listing or advertisement.

Vermont imposes a 9% rooms tax plus a 3% local option tax (where adopted) on short-term rental stays under 30 days. Hosts and platforms must register with the Department of Taxes, collect tax, and remit monthly or quarterly returns regardless of municipal lodging rules.

Vermont law restricts political signs in state highway rights-of-way and sets statewide content-neutral limits. Municipalities may regulate placement on private property but cannot ban political signs outright due to First Amendment protections.

Vermont banned single-use plastic carryout bags statewide effective July 1, 2020 under Act 69 of 2019, with paper bag fees and exemptions for certain uses.

Vermont prohibits expanded polystyrene foam food service containers statewide under Act 69 of 2019, effective July 1, 2020 for restaurants and retailers.

Vermont restricts single-use plastic straws and stirrers under Act 69 of 2019, requiring food service establishments to provide them only on customer request.

Vermont law authorizes solar easements and limits some HOA restrictions on solar installation. While not as broad as some state solar rights laws, 24 V.S.A. § 4413 restricts municipal regulation of solar collectors, and recorded solar easements provide enforceable sunlight access.

Vermont's Public Utility Commission preempts municipal review of grid-connected solar generation through a state Certificate of Public Good process. Net metered solar projects under 15 kW use streamlined registration; larger systems require 248 review with limited municipal input.

Vermont requires transient (itinerant) vendors who sell goods door-to-door or at temporary locations to register with the Department of Taxes and obtain a transient vendor license under 32 V.S.A. ยง 9271. The license applies in every town and supplements any local solicitor permit.

Vermont adopts the International Residential Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, requiring 48-inch barriers around residential pools deeper than 24 inches. State code applies in towns without local building codes and sets minimum standards statewide.

Vermont Department of Health regulates public swimming pools statewide under public health rules. Operators must maintain water quality, lifeguard staffing where required, and post safety signage. Standards apply uniformly to hotel, club, and municipal pools.

Vermont prohibits the sale of tobacco products and substitutes to anyone under age 21 under 7 V.S.A. 1003, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 standards.

Vermont restricts flavored tobacco product sales through Department of Health rules and enforces FDA flavored e-cigarette restrictions, with proposals for broader bans pending.

Vermont regulates the retail sale of electronic cigarettes and vapor products through state licensing under Title 7, requiring tobacco licenses for all retailers.

Vermont bans tires, electronics, mercury thermostats, paint, batteries, and other designated wastes from landfills under product stewardship laws administered by the Agency of Natural Resources. Producers must operate statewide free take-back programs serving every Vermont resident.

Vermont law requires every solid waste hauler to offer collection of recyclables, leaf and yard debris, and food scraps alongside trash service under 10 V.S.A. ยง 6605k. Variable-rate pricing rules apply statewide, regardless of municipality.

Vermont's Universal Recycling Law (Act 148, codified at 10 V.S.A. ยง 6605k) bans recyclables, leaf and yard debris, clean wood, and food scraps from landfill disposal statewide. Every household, business, and hauler must follow the disposal bans.