Vermont Residential Lease Agreement
A free Vermont lease template, plus what Vermont law requires a lease to include, attach or leave out — each with the statute. Use it as a starting point; landlords with unusual situations should have a lawyer review the final lease.
Disclosures Vermont requires
| Flood hazard area | Before the tenant enters a rental agreement, the landlord must disclose whether any part of the premises is in a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area. The disclosure must be a separate written document given at or before signing, substantially in the form prescribed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4466 |
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Terms Vermont law requires or controls
| Statutory duties are part of every lease | The landlord and tenant obligations in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 are automatically part of every rental agreement. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4453 |
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| Rent increase notice | A rent increase takes effect only on the first day of a rental period after at least 60 days' actual notice. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4455(b) |
| Termination notice under a written lease | With a written rental agreement, no-cause termination requires actual notice at least 30 days before the end of the term (tenancies of two years or less) or 60 days (more than two years); written week-to-week agreements need 7 days. Nonpayment requires at least 14 days' notice and breach of a material term at least 30 days. Every notice must state a specific termination date. Applies to: Written residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4467 |
| Entry | The landlord may enter with the tenant's consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), or between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice for inspection, repairs, agreed services or showings; entry without notice only when the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4460 |
Clauses that are void in Vermont
| Clauses that circumvent the statute | Any rental agreement provision that attempts to circumvent, or does circumvent, the obligations and remedies of 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 is unenforceable and void. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4454 |
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| Habitability waiver | Any waiver of the landlord's warranty of habitability is void. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4457(b) |
| Application fees and Social Security numbers | A landlord may not charge any rental application fee, may not require a Social Security number to complete an application, and must accept an unexpired government ID, an ITIN or a Social Security number for a background or credit check. Applies to: All residential rental applications Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4456a |
| Cannabis bans inside the unit | A rental agreement may not prohibit possessing cannabis on the premises or using it inside the dwelling unit, though it may prohibit smoking or vaping cannabis on the premises (not applicable where federal law requires a ban). Applies to: All residential rental agreements (effective July 1, 2026) Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4468b |
| Overriding domestic and sexual violence termination rights | A protected tenant may end the rental agreement without penalty on at least 30 days' notice with supporting documentation, notwithstanding any contrary lease provision. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4472 |
Format and delivery rules
| Separate flood disclosure document | The flood hazard disclosure must be a separate written document, not buried in the lease, given at or before signing. Applies to: All residential rental agreements Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4466(a) |
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Fill in the lease
Nothing you type leaves your browser. Bracketed items are yours to complete; clauses marked as required by Vermont law must be written to meet the rule shown above.
1. Parties. This lease is between [landlord name] ("Landlord") and [tenant name(s)] ("Tenant"). Landlord's address for notices: [landlord notice address].
2. Property. Landlord rents to Tenant the home at [rental address], including [parking, storage, appliances included].
3. Term. The lease begins on [start date] and ends on [end date]. [If month-to-month instead: the tenancy continues month to month until either side gives the written notice Vermont law requires.]
4. Rent. Rent is $[monthly rent] per month, due on the [due day] day of each month, paid by [payment method] to [where to pay].
5. Late fee. If rent is not received by [late day], a late fee of $[late fee] is due. This fee must comply with Vermont law (9 V.S.A. ch. 137).
6. Security deposit. Tenant pays a security deposit of $[deposit amount] (Vermont law sets no maximum; 9 V.S.A. 4461). Landlord will return it, minus lawful deductions with any required itemized list, within the time Vermont law sets (9 V.S.A. 4461(c)).
7. Utilities. Tenant pays: [utilities tenant pays]. Landlord pays: [utilities landlord pays].
8. Occupants and guests. Only these people may live in the home: [names of all occupants]. Guests may stay up to [guest limit] unless Landlord agrees in writing.
9. Pets. [No pets allowed / Pets allowed: describe, plus any pet deposit or fee]. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are not pets and are handled under fair housing law.
10. Repairs and maintenance. Landlord keeps the home safe and fit to live in and makes repairs required by law. Tenant keeps the home clean, reports problems promptly in writing, and pays for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
11. Landlord entry. Landlord may enter for repairs, inspections or showings after giving the notice Vermont law requires (9 V.S.A. 4460), except in an emergency.
12. Subletting. Tenant may not sublet or assign this lease without Landlord's written consent, which [will / will not] be unreasonably withheld.
13. Ending the lease. At the end of the term, [the lease ends / the lease renews month to month] unless either side gives written notice at least [notice days] days before the end date, and never less than Vermont law requires.
14. Statutory duties are part of every lease. (Write this clause to meet Vermont law: see "Statutory duties are part of every lease" above (9 V.S.A. § 4453).)
15. Rent increase notice. (Write this clause to meet Vermont law: see "Rent increase notice" above (9 V.S.A. § 4455(b)).)
16. Termination notice under a written lease. (Write this clause to meet Vermont law: see "Termination notice under a written lease" above (9 V.S.A. § 4467).)
17. Entry. (Write this clause to meet Vermont law: see "Entry" above (9 V.S.A. § 4460).)
18. Disclosures attached. Landlord has given Tenant these disclosures required by Vermont law: Flood hazard area. [Attach each one.]
19. Lead paint (homes built before 1978). If the home was built before 1978, Landlord has given Tenant the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."
20. Whole agreement. This lease and its attachments are the whole agreement. If any part is not allowed by law, the rest still applies. Changes must be in writing and signed by both sides.
Landlord: [landlord name] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
Tenant: [tenant name(s)] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
Lease agreement templates for other states · Vermont landlord-tenant law · More templates
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.