Burlington Landlord-Tenant Rules
Burlington adds local rules on top of Vermont landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Required notices/registration | Every long-term and short-term rental in Burlington must be registered with the Department of Permitting and Inspections each year, with fees due (postmarked) by April 1. The fee is $110 per long-term rental unit, or $80 for an owner-occupied duplex; $80 for a room in the host's home rented short-term, and $220 for a whole-unit short-term rental. The fees pay for rental housing inspections, complaint investigations, Housing Board of Review support and landlord-tenant resources. Units get in-person minimum housing inspections. Inspectors commonly cite missing City heating certification tags on fuel-burning heat (valid two years and affixed only by a certified contractor), missing or disabled hardwired smoke and CO detectors, missing fire extinguishers or handrails, and missing state lead-paint compliance filings for pre-1978 buildings. Registration is done through the City's online portal; see https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPI. |
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| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | The Housing Division investigates tenant complaints about minimum housing conditions and has up to seven business days to investigate and begin requiring compliance. Tenants should first ask the landlord in writing and allow a reasonable time for repairs. Lack of heat is an emergency: the landlord must provide supplemental heat (such as electric space heaters) while repairs are made. Inspectors may enter a unit between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with at least 48 hours' notice, or at any time in an emergency. The tenant FAQ lists both (802) 863-0442 and (802) 864-0442 for complaint inspections; confirm with City Hall. Noise complaints go to Burlington Police, (802) 658-2704. |
| Security deposits | Burlington's Housing Board of Review hears security deposit disputes. A tenant asks for a hearing by filing a form with the Clerk/Treasurer's Office (City Hall, 149 Church St., Room 20) within 30 days of receiving the landlord's notice of the right to a hearing, or within 44 days of moving out if no notice was given. Clerk/Treasurer: (802) 865-7131. State deposit rules are on the Vermont page. |
| Just-cause eviction | Burlington has no just-cause eviction ordinance in effect. Voters approved a charter change in 2021 allowing one, but it needs approval from the state Legislature. H.462, the 2025-2026 bill to approve it, was referred to the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee on March 12, 2025 and heard there on February 12, 2026, with no further action recorded. Source: Vt. H.462 (2025-2026) |
Eviction cases in Burlington are heard in: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Civil Division, 175 Main Street, Burlington
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No. No right-to-counsel program was found; the City refers tenants to the CVOEO Tenant Hotline and Vermont Legal Aid. Official source
Local agencies
- Department of Permitting and Inspections, Housing Division — Rental registration, minimum housing inspections and tenant complaints. City Hall, 149 Church St.
- Housing Board of Review (through the Clerk/Treasurer's Office) — Hears security deposit disputes and appeals of minimum housing orders. (802) 865-7131.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Burlington add on top of Vermont law?
Required notices/registration: Every long-term and short-term rental in Burlington must be registered with the Department of Permitting and Inspections each year, with fees due (postmarked) by April 1. The fee is $110 per long-term rental unit, or $80 for an owner-occupied duplex; $80 for a room in the host's home rented short-term, and $220 for a whole-unit short-term rental. The fees pay for rental housing inspections, complaint investigations, Housing Board of Review support and landlord-tenant resources. Units get in-person minimum housing inspections. Inspectors commonly cite missing City heating certification tags on fuel-burning heat (valid two years and affixed only by a certified contractor), missing or disabled hardwired smoke and CO detectors, missing fire extinguishers or handrails, and missing state lead-paint compliance filings for pre-1978 buildings.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: The Housing Division investigates tenant complaints about minimum housing conditions and has up to seven business days to investigate and begin requiring compliance. Tenants should first ask the landlord in writing and allow a reasonable time for repairs. Lack of heat is an emergency: the landlord must provide supplemental heat (such as electric space heaters) while repairs are made. Inspectors may enter a unit between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with at least 48 hours' notice, or at any time in an emergency.; Security deposits: Burlington's Housing Board of Review hears security deposit disputes. A tenant asks for a hearing by filing a form with the Clerk/Treasurer's Office (City Hall, 149 Church St., Room 20) within 30 days of receiving the landlord's notice of the right to a hearing, or within 44 days of moving out if no notice was given.; Just-cause eviction: Burlington has no just-cause eviction ordinance in effect. Voters approved a charter change in 2021 allowing one, but it needs approval from the state Legislature. H.462, the 2025-2026 bill to approve it, was referred to the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee on March 12, 2025 and heard there on February 12, 2026, with no further action recorded.
← All Vermont landlord-tenant rules
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.