Vermont Eviction Laws
Vermont rules on eviction for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 9 V.S.A. 4467(a)
The rules in Vermont
| Notice for unpaid rent | Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 2026 bill H.772 (to streamline nonpayment/breach evictions) failed in the Senate on May 27, 2026 and did not become law (https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.0772). Source: 9 V.S.A. 4467(a) |
|---|---|
| Notice for lease violations | Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. No statutory right to cure. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4467(b) |
| Lockouts & utility shutoffs | Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Remedies section: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/09/137/04464. No statutory fixed damages amount. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464 |
How an eviction case works in Vermont
Eviction cases are heard in: Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division, in the county where the property is located (ejectment).
- Written termination notice under 9 V.S.A. 4467 stating the termination date
- File ejectment complaint after the termination date and within 60 days after it; sheriff serves the tenant
- Tenant generally has 21 days after service to file a written answer
- Landlord may move for rent escrow (payment of rent into court); hearing after 14 days' notice; if tenant misses an escrow payment, landlord gets judgment for immediate possession (12 V.S.A. 4853a)
- Trial and judgment
- Writ of possession issues on the date of judgment; sheriff may restore possession not earlier than 14 days after service of the writ (7 days after an escrow default) (12 V.S.A. 4854)
Landlords: how to evict a tenant in Vermont — steps, costs, timeline and forms.
Eviction court and fees by county
Free calculators
- Notice Deadline Calculator — Enter the date a notice was delivered and see the date it runs out under your state's law.
Templates
Related questions
- Can a landlord evict you without going to court, change the locks or shut off utilities?
- How long does an eviction take?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before an eviction?
Vermont vs. neighboring states
| State | Notice for unpaid rent | Notice for lease violations | Lockouts & utility shutoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 9 V.S.A. 4467(a) | Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. 9 V.S.A. 4467(b) | Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464 |
| Massachusetts | 14 days' written notice to quit. For tenants at will: a tenant who has not received a similar notice in the previous 12 months can cure by paying the full rent due within 10 days after receiving the notice, and the notice must state this right. For tenants with a lease: the tenant can cure by paying all rent due, plus interest and costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the eviction case. G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12, 31 | No single statutory period. Tenancy at will: the landlord generally ends it with a written notice to quit of at least 30 days (or one rental period, if longer) that expires at the end of a rental period, stating the lease violation as the reason. Unexpired lease: the lease itself controls the grounds for termination and the notice required. G.L. c. 186, § 12; Massachusetts Court System guidance | Illegal. A landlord who willfully fails to provide required utilities or services (heat, hot water, water, light, power, gas, elevator); interferes with them; shifts utility costs to the tenant without consent; interferes with quiet enjoyment; or tries to regain possession by force without court process faces: a criminal fine of $25-$300 or up to 6 months' imprisonment; and civil liability for actual and consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney's fees. A tenant removed or excluded without a valid court order may get back into the unit or end the lease, and may recover 3 months' rent or 3x actual damages, plus costs and attorney's fees. G.L. c. 186, §§ 14, 15F |
| New Hampshire | 7-day written eviction notice (plus a demand for rent), stating the reason with specificity and telling the tenant of the right to avoid eviction by paying arrears. RSA 540:3, II-IV; RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:5 | 30-day written eviction notice for breach of a material lease term or other good cause; 7 days for substantial damage to the premises, conduct affecting health or safety, or (in certain domestic-violence cases) a remaining cotenant accused of abuse. RSA 540:3, II; RSA 540:2, II-III | Prohibited. Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate any utility (even one it doesn't control), except temporarily for repairs or emergencies, and may not lock out or deny access to the tenant or the tenant's property except by judicial process. RSA 540-A:3, I-III; RSA 540-A:4; RSA 358-A:10 |
| New York | 14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; failure is an affirmative defense to a nonpayment case. N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2); N.Y. RPL § 235-e(d) | No general statewide statutory cure-notice period (lease terms govern). Where Good Cause Eviction applies, the tenant must be given written notice and 10 days to cure a substantial lease violation before eviction on that ground. In any lease-breach eviction case, the court must grant a 30-day stay of the warrant during which the tenant may cure. N.Y. RPL § 216 (Good Cause); N.Y. RPAPL § 753(4) | Self-help eviction is illegal: no force/threats, cutting off essential services, removing belongings or the door, or changing/disabling locks to remove an occupant who has lived there 30+ days or has a lease. Owner must restore the occupant. Penalties: class A misdemeanor; civil penalty of $1,000-$10,000 per violation plus up to $100/day (max 6 months) for failing to restore. N.Y. RPAPL § 768; RPL § 235 (willful failure to furnish water, heat, light, power, etc.) |
City rules that may add to state law
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- Free legal help in Vermont
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Vermont Eviction Laws FAQ
How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Vermont?
Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. (9 V.S.A. 4467(a))
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Vermont?
Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. (9 V.S.A. 4467(b))
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Vermont?
Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. (9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464)
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.