Vermont building permits

Where to get a building permit in Vermont

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Vermont state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Vermont

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Vermont building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

20 V.S.A. § 2730(b); VFBSC 2025 permit table; Vermont Electrical Safety Rules 2025 § 2(c); Vermont Plumbing Rules 2025 § 2(A); 30 V.S.A. § 51(h)

• Owner-occupied single-family residence is not a 'public building'. (1) An owner-occupied single-family residence, unless used for a purpose described in subsection (a) of this section.¹¹
• Working-farm buildings are not public buildings. (3) Farm buildings on a working farm or farms.¹¹
• Owner-occupied single-family home with a non-rented ADU is not a public building. (4) An owner-occupied single-family residence with an accessory dwelling unit as permitted under 24 V.S.A. § 4412(1)(E), unless rented overnight or for a longer term as described in subdivision (1)(D) of subsection (a) of this section.¹¹
• Projects within a Single-Family Owner-Occupied home that includes: new construction, alterations, renovations or the installation of fixtures. No No No Yes Yes For plumbing only if connected to a public water or sewer system…¹
• Maintenance projects within a public building such as painting, replacement of broken fixtures with fixture that is an exact match. No No Yes No Yes…¹
• Construction permit required before work unless waived by AHJ. (1) The owner, or a designated representative, of a building or premises shall obtain a construction permit before beginning any construction, addition, alteration, rehabilitation, demolition or installation of fixed building equipment at the building site unless specifically waived by the AHJ.¹
• Electrical Safety Rules do not apply to single-family owner-occupied dwellings (rentals and rented ADUs not exempt). (6) A single-family owner-occupied dwelling. This does not exempt single family rentals or accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) used as rentals, short term or long term, as defined by State statute 20 VSA 2730.⁷
• Plumbing Rules apply to buildings on public water/sewer, including owner-occupied single-family; no work notice if not connected. This includes owner-occupied single-family residences. Owner-occupied single-family residences which are not connected to a public water system or a public sewerage system do not require a work notice.¹⁰
• RBES exemptions: very low energy use, HUD-code homes, unheated/uncooled buildings, qualifying owner-builders. The following residential construction shall not be subject to the requirements of this subchapter…¹²

Applies to

Public buildings only for DFS construction permits¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Some municipalities have local rules exceeding state codes¹

Homeowners doing their own work

20 V.S.A. § 2730(b)(1); Vermont Electrical Safety Rules 2025 § 2(c)(6); Vermont Plumbing Rules 2025 §§ 6(D), 11(A); 30 V.S.A. § 51(h)(4)

• Owner-occupied single-family residence is not a 'public building'. (1) An owner-occupied single-family residence, unless used for a purpose described in subsection (a) of this section.¹¹
• Electrical Safety Rules do not apply to single-family owner-occupied dwellings (rentals and rented ADUs not exempt). (6) A single-family owner-occupied dwelling. This does not exempt single family rentals or accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) used as rentals, short term or long term, as defined by State statute 20 VSA 2730.⁷
• Owner may do own plumbing in owner-occupied freestanding single-family dwelling without a license. (A) Any plumbing and specialty work performed by an owner or the owner's regular employees in the owner-occupied freestanding single-family dwelling or in outbuildings accessory to the owner- occupied, single-family dwelling.¹⁰
• Owner files a plumbing work notice before work in a single-family home on public water/sewer. (D) File a work notice and obtain a validated work notice required under Section 14 of these rules before any plumbing work begins in a single-family home connected to a public water or sewerage system.¹⁰
• Projects within a Single-Family Owner-Occupied home that includes: new construction, alterations, renovations or the installation of fixtures. No No No Yes Yes For plumbing only if connected to a public water or sewer system…¹
• Owner-builder exempt from RBES technical requirements if owner is builder, lives in it, directs work, and discloses to buyer. (4) Residential construction by an owner, if all of the following apply: (A) The owner of the residential construction is the builder, as defined under this section. (B) The residential construction is used as a dwelling by the owner. (C) The owner in fact directs the details of construction with regard to the installation of materials not in compliance with RBES. (D) The owner discloses in writing to a prospective buyer, before entering into a binding purchase and sales agreement, with respect to the nature and extent of any noncompliance with RBES.¹²
• Owner/builder must file a disclosure statement. “Owner/builder” projects are exempt from the technical requirements of the Code, but the owner / builder must meet certification requirements by completing and filing a Vermont Owner / Builder Disclosure Statement at the Town Clerk’s Office where the home is located and with the Vermont PSD.¹³
• Owner may do own electrical work in a freestanding single-unit residence and accessory outbuildings without an electrician license. (3) Any electrical work by an owner or his or her regular employees in the owner’s freestanding single unit residence, in outbuildings accessory to such freestanding single unit residence, or any structure on owner-occupied farms.¹⁴

Applies to

Owner-occupied single-family residence¹¹

Contractor licensing

26 V.S.A. ch. 106, § 5501 et seq. (Act 182 of 2022); 26 V.S.A. ch. 15 (electricians); 26 V.S.A. ch. 39 (plumbers)

• Effective April 1, 2023. Registration for Residential Contractors is required as of April 1, 2023.⁶
• Residential contracting defined. Residential Contracting is defined as to build, demolish, or alter a residential dwelling unit, or a building or premises with four or fewer residential dwelling units and includes the following…¹⁵
• $75. Individual Registration fees - The registration fee for individuals is $75.00…¹⁵
• $250. Businesses Registration fees - The registration fee for business organizations is $250.00…¹⁵
• Liability insurance $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate. A copy of your minimum liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and $2,000,000.00 aggregate.¹⁵
• Licensed trades working within scope are exempt from registration. Any tradesperson, licensed, registered or certified by the Department of Public Safety, while working within the scope of the license, registration, or certification.¹⁵
• Electrician license required except in residential buildings with two or fewer units. With limited exceptions, anyone performing electrical work in the State of Vermont, other than in a residential building containing two or fewer dwelling units or electrical work regulated under the National Electrical Code, article 800, Communications Circuits, is required to be licensed as an electrician.⁷
• Plumbing work requires a licensed plumber except listed exemptions. All plumbing and specialty work performed in Vermont shall be performed by persons licensed under this chapter except that a license shall not be required for the following types of work…¹⁰

Handyman limits

26 V.S.A. § 5501(b)

• Work on structures not attached to a residence is exempt. A person working on a structure that is not attached to a residential building.¹⁵
• Subcontractors hired by contractors need not register. If you are a subcontractor and you are contracted by another contractor and not the homeowner directly, you are not required to register with OPR.¹⁵

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

24 V.S.A. § 4448(d); 20 V.S.A. § 2731(d)

• 30 days. (d) If the administrative officer fails to act with regard to a complete application for a permit within 30 days, whether by issuing a decision or by making a referral to the appropriate municipal panel, a permit shall be deemed issued on the 31st day.¹⁶
• DPS to set permit processing time limits. The Commissioner shall establish time limits for permit processing as well as procedures and time periods within which to notify applicants whether an application is complete.¹¹

Private plan review and inspections

26 V.S.A. § 899; 20 V.S.A. § 2736

• Private electrical inspections on own premises, if assigned by the Commissioner. (a) Upon a determination that the resources of the State and the municipality are insufficient to provide the approval or inspection services required by this chapter, the Commissioner may assign responsibility for inspecting electrical installations on its own premises to a private corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that has an ongoing need for services.¹⁷
• Commissioner may assign enforcement to qualified municipalities. After considering the type of buildings within the municipality, if the Commissioner determines that the training, qualifications, and procedures are sufficient, he or she may assign responsibility to the municipality for enforcement of some or all of these rules and standards.¹¹

Limits on permit fees

20 V.S.A. §§ 2731(c), 2736(b)

• $8.00 per $1,000 of valuation; min $50, max $185,000. (1) The permit application fee for a construction plan approval shall be based on $8.00 per each $1,000.00 of the total valuation of the construction work proposed to be done for all buildings, but in no event shall the permit application fee exceed $185,000.00 nor be less than $50.00.¹¹
• $125.00 change of use/ownership inspection. (2) When an inspection is required due to the change in use or ownership of a public building, the fee shall be $125.00.¹¹
• Municipalities with assigned enforcement may set reasonable fees. (b) If a municipality assumes responsibility under subsection (a) of this section for performing any functions that would be subject to a fee established under subsection 2731(c) of this title, the municipality may establish and collect reasonable fees for its own use, and no fee shall be charged for the benefit of the State.¹¹
• Prorated refund on abandoned projects with fees over $150. In the case of abandonment or discontinuance of a building project involving a construction permit fee greater than $150 the construction permit fee may be refunded, upon written request to the AHJ, prorated on construction work, services, reviews and inspections conducted prior to such abandonment.¹
• 50% plan review fee on resubmittal after 12 months. When a project is resubmitted for review beyond the 12 months and where no extension was granted, and no major building design change has occurred a 50% plan review fee will be assessed.¹

Selling a home with unpermitted work

9 V.S.A. § 2883; 30 V.S.A. § 51(h)(4)(D)

• Seller must certify smoke and CO detectors at closing. (a) The seller of a single-family dwelling, including one constructed for first occupancy, whether the transfer is by sale or exchange, shall certify to the buyer at the closing of the transaction that the dwelling is provided with photoelectric-only-type smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with this chapter.¹⁸
• Violation does not create title defect. (c) Violation of this section or of the installation requirements of section 2882 of this title shall not create a defect in title.¹⁸
• Owner-builder must disclose RBES noncompliance to buyer before P&S. (D) The owner discloses in writing to a prospective buyer, before entering into a binding purchase and sales agreement, with respect to the nature and extent of any noncompliance with RBES.¹²
• Missing RBES certificate does not create title defect. (i) Title validity not affected. A defect in marketable title shall not be created by a failure to issue certification or a certificate, as required under subsection (f) or subdivision (h)(4) of this section, or by a failure under that subsection to affix a certificate; to provide a copy of a certificate to the Department of Public Service; or to record and index a certificate in the town records.¹²

What local governments may change

24 V.S.A. § 3101(a),(c); VFBSC 2025 § 11(3); 20 V.S.A. § 2736(f)

• Cities, towns and incorporated villages may adopt building codes. (a) The mayor and board of aldermen of a city, the selectboard of a town, or the trustees of an incorporated village, may, in accordance with this chapter, establish codes and regulations for the construction, maintenance, repair, and alteration of buildings and other structures within the municipality.¹⁹
• Municipal codes exclude electrical installations regulated by the state. Such codes and regulations may include provisions relating to building materials, structural design, passageways, stairways and exits, heating systems, fire protection procedures, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, but excluding electrical installations subject to regulation under 26 V.S.A. chapter 15.¹⁹
• Local building codes must be consistent with state DPS rules. (c) When any municipality adopts or amends a building code, it shall impose requirements consistent with the current rules and standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety under 20 V.S.A. chapter 173, subchapter 2.¹⁹
• Municipal fire/building codes must be consistent with the VFBSC. (3) Any fire, building or similar code standards adopted by any municipality shall be consistent with the standards adopted under this Code.¹
• Some municipalities have local rules exceeding state codes. Some municipalities have adopted local rules, regulations or ordinances that exceed State codes.¹
• Municipal authority under other building/housing code laws preserved. (f) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to decrease the authority of municipal officials under other laws, including laws concerning building codes and laws concerning housing codes.¹¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Some municipalities have local rules exceeding state codes¹

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

24 V.S.A. § 4412(1)(E)-(F); 20 V.S.A. § 2730(b)(4)

• One ADU per owner-occupied single-family lot is a permitted use. (E) Except for flood hazard and fluvial erosion area bylaws adopted pursuant to section 4424 of this title, no bylaw shall have the effect of excluding as a permitted use one accessory dwelling unit that is located within or appurtenant to a single-family dwelling on an owner-occupied lot.²⁰
• Same review as a single-family dwelling without an ADU. A bylaw shall require a single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit to be subject to the same review, dimensional, or other controls as required for a single-family dwelling without an accessory dwelling unit.²⁰
• Conversion of detached nonresidential building no stricter than for a single-family dwelling. The criteria for conversion of an existing detached nonresidential building to habitable space for an accessory dwelling unit shall not be more restrictive than the criteria used for a single-family dwelling without an accessory dwelling unit.²⁰
• Local bylaws may be less restrictive; short-term rentals may be regulated separately. (F) Nothing in subdivision (1)(E) of this section shall be construed to prohibit: (i) a bylaw that is less restrictive of accessory dwelling units; or (ii) a bylaw that regulates short-term rental units distinctly from residential rental units.²⁰
• Non-rented ADU in owner-occupied home is outside state fire/building code. (4) An owner-occupied single-family residence with an accessory dwelling unit as permitted under 24 V.S.A. § 4412(1)(E), unless rented overnight or for a longer term as described in subdivision (1)(D) of subsection (a) of this section.¹¹
• Accessory Dwelling unit if RENTED Yes Yes No Yes Yes For plumbing only if connected to a public water supply…¹
• Electrical Safety Rules do not apply to single-family owner-occupied dwellings (rentals and rented ADUs not exempt). (6) A single-family owner-occupied dwelling. This does not exempt single family rentals or accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) used as rentals, short term or long term, as defined by State statute 20 VSA 2730.⁷

Applies to

Every municipality²⁰

Can local rules be stricter?

Local may be less (not more) restrictive²⁰