Building permits, zoning and land rules in Caledonia County, Vermont
85Index Score / 100 #5 of 14 in Vermont
Caledonia County, Vermont does not issue building permits or run zoning; each town decides whether it has zoning and who issues its land-use permit, and St. Johnsbury requires a zoning permit before land development begins123. Septic and drinking-water permits for every address in the county, town or not, come from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, not the town4. State residential energy standards still apply unless an exemption fits5.
At a glance
Building permit
The county issues none; where a town has adopted bylaws, its administrative officer issues the zoning (land-use) permit, and St. Johnsbury requires one before land development163
Building code
State residential energy standards apply subject to exemptions; state inspection rules cover public buildings but generally exclude owner-occupied single-family homes57
Zoning
Set by each town, not the county; St. Johnsbury has its own zoning bylaws28
Septic and water permits
State wastewater and potable water supply permit from Vermont DEC, required before most construction; it stays with the state inside towns too910
Owner-builder
An owner who builds and lives in the home can claim an exemption from the state energy standards only; it does not waive town zoning permits, and it carries written disclosure and filing duties on sale1112
RV living
St. Johnsbury bars a parked travel trailer from use as living quarters, except visitor sleeping stays of less than 2 weeks; trailer parks need separate approvals1314
Accessory dwelling unit
St. Johnsbury allows one qualifying ADU with a zoning permit, subject to dimensional, parking, water and wastewater requirements15
Septic soil difficulty
Only 2% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field16
State wastewater and potable water supply permits for Caledonia County; permitting staff are assigned to a regional office network that includes a St. Johnsbury regional office covering this area
Zoning permits, subdivision review and the Development Review Board for land within the Town of St. Johnsbury, the Caledonia County seat; other towns in the county administer their own separate zoning offices, if they have zoning at all
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Do you need a building permit in Caledonia County, Vermont?
Caledonia County does not issue building permits, because Vermont grants local building authority to cities, towns and incorporated villages rather than counties1. What exists is a municipal land-use (zoning) permit: in any town that has adopted bylaws, no land development may begin without a permit from the town's administrative officer17. In St. Johnsbury, that zoning permit is required before land development begins unless a listed exemption applies, and small accessory structures qualify for an exemption only within the ordinance's size, height and setback limits3.
The energy code is a separate question. Vermont's residential energy standards cover new residential construction unless an exemption fits5. State fire and building-safety inspections apply to public buildings such as rentals, apartments and workplaces, while an owner-occupied single-family home is generally excluded unless used for a listed public purpose7. An owner who is also the builder and lives in the home can claim an exemption from the energy standards, but that exemption does not exempt the project from municipal permits, and it requires written disclosure to a prospective buyer and a filing within 30 days after a sale1112.
Who issues building, zoning and septic permits in Caledonia County?
There is no Caledonia County building department, because Vermont does not give counties building-permit authority1. Each town with adopted bylaws issues its own zoning permits through an administrative officer18. For land inside St. Johnsbury, contact Town Planning & Zoning, which handles zoning permits, subdivision review and the Development Review Board; the town publishes a fee schedule, and starting work before a complete application is submitted doubles the applicable fee192021. For land in any other Caledonia County town, ask that town's clerk or zoning office first.
What does not move to the town: septic and drinking-water permits for every address in the county come from the Vermont DEC Wastewater System & Potable Water Supply Program224. Driveway permits are a third track: a driveway affecting a state highway needs a written state permit, and work affecting a town highway needs approval from the town23. St. Johnsbury assigns new town-road entrances to its Department of Public Works Director24.
Does Caledonia County have zoning?
Caledonia County does not administer countywide zoning, because Vermont gives zoning authority to municipalities rather than counties2. St. Johnsbury has its own zoning bylaws and a Development Review Board, and publishes base and overlay district maps, but the district list available to us is from a draft and should not be treated as current825. Draft town tables also show district-specific lot sizes, setbacks, lot coverage and building heights; ask Town Planning & Zoning for the adopted map and dimensional table before designing a project2627282919.
In St. Johnsbury, dividing land requires Development Review Board approval, though the board may waive final subdivision approval for small subdivisions that meet district lot-size and road-frontage requirements; the document is a draft, so confirm the enacted version30. St. Johnsbury allows one qualifying accessory dwelling unit with a zoning permit and compliance with dimensional, parking, water and wastewater standards15. A manufactured home on its own lot is treated as a one-unit dwelling31. We could not confirm a minimum dwelling size or a rule classifying every tiny home; ask the town to classify the exact structure.
How do septic and water permits work in Caledonia County?
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, rather than Caledonia County or any town, issues septic (wastewater) and potable-water permits for every address in the county4. A town can hold up a zoning permit until the state permit is issued32. Vermont generally requires a state permit before constructing, replacing or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system10. Ongoing inspection or reporting is not universal; it depends on the permitted system and may apply to components such as innovative or alternative units and sand filters33.
Only 2% of county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early purchase contingency16. A narrow primitive-camp exemption covers limited use without interior plumbing beyond a sink, but not seasonal camps34. Some systems dating from before 2007 may remain allowed if building use and flows have not changed, but a failed system that threatens health or the environment must be replaced; new work, higher flows and replacement may require a state permit35. Municipal sewer service, where available, adds municipal allocation approval36.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Caledonia County?
St. Johnsbury does not allow a parked travel trailer to be used as living quarters. A visitor may use a camper for sleeping for less than 2 weeks, with utilities attached only during that exception13. A travel-trailer park is a separate use requiring site-plan and conditional-use approval plus water and sewage attachments for each trailer lot1437. We could not confirm the same RV rule elsewhere in Caledonia County; ask the municipality that governs the parcel.
We could not confirm a countywide tiny-home classification. In St. Johnsbury, a manufactured home on its own lot is treated as a one-unit dwelling, but the bylaw does not expressly classify every structure sold as a tiny home31. Ask the relevant municipal office to classify the unit before buying it or preparing a site. A dwelling's water and wastewater system remains subject to the state permitting framework even when marketed as off-grid10.
Building a home in Caledonia County: the steps, in order
Identify the town and ask its administrative officer whether bylaws cover the parcel; where they apply, obtain the town zoning permit before development begins18.
Establish water and septic feasibility, then apply for the state septic and water permit through the Vermont DEC Wastewater System & Potable Water Supply Program, which handles it even inside a town224.
In St. Johnsbury, file the zoning application with the Administrative Officer and include the required plan, project details and fee1920.
Obtain a separate driveway (access) permit for a new or altered entrance affecting a town or state highway23.
Determine how Vermont's residential energy standards and public-building safety rules apply to the project57.
Before occupancy, obtain a certificate if the municipal bylaws require one; St. Johnsbury requires a certificate of zoning compliance for covered new or changed uses and structures3839.
What to check before you buy land in Caledonia County
Confirm the municipality, current zoning district, permitted use, setbacks, lot coverage and occupancy classification before making an offer because the rules vary by town4041. In St. Johnsbury, also check whether mapped flood-hazard rules trigger conditional review or restrict the proposed development42. Put an acceptable wastewater design in the purchase contingencies: only 2% of county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field16. Check whether a new or altered driveway needs a separate access permit23.
The county is 87.6% wooded, while 55.4% of the land has a slope of 15% or less, so verify the buildable area rather than judging from acreage alone4344. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.8%, and the median annual bill is about $3,9514546. If an accessory dwelling is planned in St. Johnsbury, confirm dimensional, parking, water and wastewater compliance15.
Watch-outs
Do not treat St. Johnsbury's rules as countywide; every Caledonia County municipality can have a different bylaw framework40.
We could not confirm a specific tiny-home classification or minimum dwelling size; ask the town to classify the exact structure before purchase4031.
St. Johnsbury requires a certificate of zoning compliance before covered land or structures may be used or occupied; elsewhere, a certificate applies only when municipal bylaws require one3938.
A town's zoning permit does not replace the state septic and water permit, and the owner-builder energy exemption does not replace the town zoning permit1210.
Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.
VT DEC Wastewater System & Potable Water Supply Program
VT DEC Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Div.
VT DEC
VT DEC Wastewater System & Potable Water Supply Program
VT DEC Wastewater Systems & Potable Water Supply Program
VT Dept. of Env. Conservation
County locator
Caledonia County in Vermont
85
County map
Caledonia County highlighted among the Vermont counties · colored by Index score
How Caledonia County scores
Seclusion73100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness72100% ev.
Durability82100% ev.
Property Autonomy59100% ev.
Carry Cost68100% ev.
Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →
$306kTypical home
1.8%Property tax
$3,395Land / acre
44.7"Annual rain
0.3% of yrsSevere drought
0.1 / yr (+0.1)Mid-century 100°F days
8.5 daysMid-century dry spell
1.61" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.5×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,139Home insurance / yr
-0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.62%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
17,945People within 30 min
753,852People within 2 hr
31,678Radius comparison (15 mi)
47.2People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
55.4%Land at 15% slope or less
2%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
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Cities and towns in Caledonia County
Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.
Town of Barnet · Town of Burke · Town of Danville · Town of Groton · Town of Hardwick · Town of Kirby · Town of Lyndon · Town of Newark · Town of Peacham · Town of Ryegate · Town of Sheffield · Town of St. Johnsbury · Town of Stannard · Town of Sutton · Town of Walden · Town of Waterford · Village of West Burke · Town of Wheelock
Answers from the rulebook for Caledonia County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Caledonia County rules
Local zoningVaries (with conditions)
Aggregate of municipal zoning within Caledonia County; the county does not administer each local zoning ordinance under this claim.
Under 24 V.S.A. § 4411, a municipality may regulate land development through zoning bylaws, and such bylaws may apply differently by municipality and district.
St. Johnsbury's official planning page states that its municipal planning and zoning office administers the Town's physical growth and development and its zoning bylaws.
This claim does not establish zoning status for every Caledonia County municipality or establish any countywide zoning ordinance.
“Walden has no zoning therefore building permits are not required. However, all state regulations must be followed for water and septic and the road foreman must be contacted before a driveway is placed.”
County-wide zoningAbsent
Caledonia County itself does not administer zoning; under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 zoning is adopted and enforced at the town level, and many Caledonia County towns (e.g., St. Johnsbury) have zoning bylaws while others have none.
Land development, including residential construction, within the area of a Vermont municipality where municipal bylaws have been adopted.
The requirement is conditional on the municipality having adopted bylaws.
The permit is issued by the municipality’s administrative officer.
The statute describes this as a municipal land use or zoning permit, not a county-issued building permit.
The permit does not take effect until applicable appeal periods and proceedings are complete.
“Within any municipality in which any bylaws have been adopted: (1) No land development may be commenced within the area affected by the bylaws without a permit issued by the administrative officer. No permit may be issued by the administrative officer except in conformance with the bylaws.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Land development within Vermont municipalities where zoning bylaws have been adopted; this is a statewide statutory framework, not a county-administered building-permit rule.
“(a) Within any municipality in which any bylaws have been adopted: (1) No land development may be commenced within the area affected by the bylaws without a permit issued by the administrative officer. No permit may be issued by the administrative officer except in conformance with the bylaws.”
Residential construction exempt from Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards when the owner is also the builder and occupies the dwelling.
The owner must be the builder.
The residential construction must be used as the owner's dwelling.
The owner must direct the construction details concerning installation of materials that do not comply with RBES.
Before entering a binding purchase and sales agreement, the owner must disclose in writing to a prospective buyer the nature and extent of RBES noncompliance and itemize the noncompliant measures.
Any certificate under this exemption must be recorded in the property land records and sent to the Department of Public Service within 30 days after the owner's sale of the property.
This is an RBES exemption and does not establish a general exemption from municipal permits or other applicable building requirements.
“The following residential construction shall not be subject to the requirements of this subchapter: [...] (4) Residential construction by an owner, if all of the following apply:”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Conditional — Owner-built residential construction in Vermont seeking exemption from the residential building energy standards.
“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.”
Building code adoptedPartial
Residential building energy standards applicable statewide in Vermont, including Caledonia County, for one-family, two-family, and multifamily residential buildings three stories or less.
Residential construction must comply with standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Service.
The statute defines residential construction to include new construction and additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs.
The statute excludes hunting camps from the definition of residential buildings.
Exemptions include buildings or additions below the stated energy-use thresholds, manufactured homes subject to Title VI of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, buildings or additions that are neither heated nor cooled, and qualifying owner-built owner-occupied residential construction.
For the owner exemption, the owner must be the builder, use the construction as a dwelling, direct details involving noncompliant materials, disclose the noncompliance to a prospective buyer before a binding purchase and sales agreement, record the certificate in the land records, and send it to the Department of Public Service within 30 days after sale.
A stretch code may be adopted by municipalities and applies in Act 250 proceedings as provided by statute.
residential-building height: <= 3 stories or less (Hunting camps are excluded from the statutory definition.) · low-energy threshold: < 3.4 BTUs per hour per square foot (Alternative threshold is less than one watt per square foot of floor area.) · owner-exemption filing deadline: 30 days following sale (Applies to sending the owner noncompliance certificate to the Department of Public Service.)
“Residential construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Service in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.”
6 more reviewed findings on this topic
Partial — Residential construction in Caledonia County through Vermont's statewide Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES).
“Residential construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Service in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.”
Partial — Residential construction in Caledonia County under Vermont statewide residential building-energy standards, subject to statutory exemptions and certification requirements.
“Residential construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Service in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.”
Partial — Vermont's statewide building-code framework, including the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code for public buildings and statutory exemptions for specified residential, farm, child-care, and home-business categories.
“The 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code establishes the minimum standards to protect the public from the risks of fire, explosion, hazardous materials, dangerous structural conditions and carbon monoxide poisoning within public buildings. [...] Several entities are exempted from this rule and include single family owner occupied homes, small working farms, registered day care facilities and some home businesses.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Public buildings in Vermont subject to the 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code.
“The 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code establishes the minimum standards to protect the public from the risks of fire, explosion, hazardous materials, dangerous structural conditions and carbon monoxide poisoning within public buildings. These amended rules provide updates and incorporate more recent editions of the same national codes and standards that are currently adopted.”
Not adopted — Owner-occupied single-family residences in Vermont, unless the residence is used for a purpose that makes it a public building under 20 V.S.A. § 2730(a).
“The term “public building” does not include: (1) An owner-occupied single-family residence, unless used for a purpose described in subsection (a) of this section.”
Partial — State fire and building safety rules for construction and occupied premises statewide, including residential premises within the statutory public-building and multiunit/residential categories.
“Pursuant to his or her authority under this section, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall: [...] Update building codes on three-year cycles, consistent with codes developed by code-writing authorities, to keep pace with technology, products, and design.”
InspectionsLimited
Premises and buildings subject to Vermont’s fire and building-safety subchapter, including public buildings such as rental accommodations, apartments, condominiums, workplaces, and public assembly buildings.
The Commissioner may establish inspection priorities based on relative fire risks.
An owner-occupied single-family residence is excluded from the public-building definition unless used for a listed public-building purpose.
Municipalities may assume some enforcement responsibilities if the Commissioner assigns them.
“The term “public building” does not include: (1) An owner-occupied single-family residence, unless used for a purpose described in subsection (a) of this section. [...] The Commissioner shall conduct inspections of premises to ensure that the rules adopted under this subchapter are being observed and may establish priorities for enforcing these rules and standards based on the relative risks to persons and property from fire of particular types of premises.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — Buildings undergoing alteration or erection where the statutory building-inspector regime applies in Vermont.
“The inspector shall daily examine the condition of buildings undergoing alteration or erection”
Limited — Premises and buildings subject to Vermont fire-prevention and building-code rules administered by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
“The Commissioner may also conduct inspections to ensure that buildings are constructed in accordance with approved plans and drawings.”
Certificate of occupancyLimited
Use or occupancy of land or structures within a Vermont municipality’s area affected by adopted bylaws.
A certificate of occupancy is required only if the municipality’s adopted bylaws so provide.
The certificate is issued by the municipal administrative officer.
The proposed use must conform to the applicable bylaws.
For residential or commercial construction subject to the statute, the applicable building-energy certificate is a condition precedent to issuance.
“If the bylaws so adopted so provide, it shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any land or structure, or part thereof, created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure after the effective date of this chapter, within the area affected by those bylaws, until a certificate of occupancy is issued therefor by the administrative officer, stating that the proposed use of the structure or land conforms to the requirements of those bylaws.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements in Vermont municipalities with adopted bylaws.
“(2) If the bylaws so adopted so provide, it shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any land or structure, or part thereof, created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure after the effective date of this chapter, within the area affected by those bylaws, until a certificate of occupancy is issued therefor by the administrative officer, stating that the proposed use of the structure or land conforms to the requirements of those bylaws.”
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Vermont municipal zoning bylaws and zoning maps; the State statute authorizes and describes the framework for local zoning districts but does not publish each municipality's actual district map or district boundaries.
Municipal zoning bylaws may classify different uses and structures into separate districts shown on a zoning map made part of the bylaws.
Actual district names, boundaries, permitted uses, conditional uses, and dimensional standards are local and must be obtained from the relevant municipality.
Special overlay districts may supplement or modify underlying zoning requirements, including for floodplains, shorelands, aquifer protection, ridgelines, scenic features, and highway areas.
“different provisions may be applied to different classes of situations, uses, and structures and to different and separate districts of the municipality”
SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)
Municipal land-use standards throughout Vermont, including setback requirements applicable to particular uses, districts, or hazard areas.
Specific setback distances are established by applicable municipal bylaws or other applicable state requirements.
Housing decisions may adjust municipal standards only under the statutory findings described in 24 V.S.A. § 4464(b)(7)(B).
“dimensions, location, [...] and use of structures; [...] distances to be left unoccupied by uses and structures; [...] different provisions may be applied [...] to different and separate districts”
Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)
Municipal building-height standards throughout Vermont; the applicable height limit is determined by local bylaws and district standards.
The statute does not establish a statewide numeric height limit.
For housing developments, a municipal panel may not reduce building height below that allowed in the municipal bylaws except under the statutory modification findings.
building height: As allowed in applicable municipal bylaws (Subject to 24 V.S.A. § 4464(b)(7)(B) adjustments)
“limit the building size to less than that allowed in the municipal bylaws, including reducing the building footprint or height;”
Manufactured homesLimited
Placement and occupancy of manufactured/mobile homes in Vermont municipalities, including districts that allow year-round residential development.
Effective July 1, 2026.
A municipal bylaw may not exclude manufactured/mobile homes from a district that allows year-round residential development, except under the same terms and conditions applicable to conventional housing.
The statutory exception in 24 V.S.A. § 4412(1)(B) refers to 24 V.S.A. § 4414(1)(E) design review districts and § 4414(1)(F) local historic districts and landmarks.
Municipalities may establish site standards for individual sites within preexisting mobile home parks concerning distances between structures and other standards necessary to ensure public health, safety, and welfare.
Those site standards may not prohibit replacement of mobile homes on existing lots.
The Act directs the Office of Legislative Counsel to replace “mobile home” with “manufactured home” throughout the statutes as needed for consistency with the Act, without changing meaning.
“Except as provided in subdivisions 4414(1)(E) and (F) of this title, no bylaw shall have the effect of excluding mobile homes, modular housing, or prefabricated housing from any district that allows year-round residential development in the municipality, except upon the same terms and conditions as conventional housing is excluded. A municipality may establish specific site standards in the bylaws to regulate individual sites within preexisting mobile home parks with regard to distances between structures and other standards as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and welfare, provided the standards do not have the effect of prohibiting the replacement of mobile homes on existing lots.”
Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)
One accessory dwelling unit within or appurtenant to a single-family dwelling on an owner-occupied lot in Vermont municipalities.
The unit must be within or appurtenant to a single-family dwelling on an owner-occupied lot.
Flood hazard and fluvial erosion area bylaws adopted under 24 V.S.A. § 4424 are an exception.
The single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit is subject to the same review, dimensional, and other controls applicable to a single-family dwelling without an accessory dwelling unit.
The property must have sufficient wastewater capacity.
The unit must not exceed 30 percent of the total habitable floor area of the single-family dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is greater.
A municipality may adopt less restrictive accessory-dwelling-unit rules.
Conversion of an existing detached nonresidential building to habitable space for an accessory dwelling unit may not be subject to criteria more restrictive than those used for a single-family dwelling without an accessory dwelling unit.
maximum floor area: 30% of the total habitable floor area or 900 square feet, whichever is greater
“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. 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.”
Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)
Statewide regulation of soil-based wastewater systems and sewerage connections in Vermont, including systems subject to 10 V.S.A. chapter 64 and municipalities that receive delegated authority.
The Secretary of Natural Resources is the default permitting authority under 10 V.S.A. chapter 64.
The Secretary may delegate to a municipality authority to implement all sections of chapter 64 except §§ 1975 and 1978, or permitting for qualifying projects served by both sanitary sewer and water service lines connected to infrastructure owned and controlled by the municipality.
A municipality receiving delegation must submit a written request and satisfy statutory requirements concerning application processing, a licensed designer, enforcement, annual reporting, system capacity, and compliance with adopted rules.
Municipal ordinances and zoning bylaws regulating potable water supplies and wastewater systems are generally superseded by chapter 64, but consistent local procedural requirements and local ordinances applying to exempt systems are not superseded in municipalities receiving delegation.
A municipality may assess fees sufficient to support municipal services provided under the delegation.
“The Secretary may delegate to a municipality authority to: (A) implement all sections of this chapter, except for sections 1975 and 1978 of this title; or (B) implement permitting under this chapter for the subdivision of land, a building or structure, or a campground”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
State — Wastewater and potable-water permitting applicable to properties in Caledonia County, subject to any legally delegated municipal authority.
“Municipalities that have delegation are Colchester and Charlotte.”
Septic permitRequired
New residential construction and associated potable-water or wastewater systems in Caledonia County and elsewhere in Vermont.
A permit from the Secretary is required before constructing a new building or structure, subject to the exemptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1974 and 1978.
The statute also covers constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system; modifying a building in a manner that increases design flow or changes operational requirements; new or modified connections; and changes of use that increase design flows or modify operational requirements.
Section 1974 exempts buildings, structures, campgrounds, associated supplies and systems substantially completed before January 1, 2007, and improved and unimproved lots existing before January 1, 2007, subject to its conditions.
Section 1974 also exempts primitive camps with no interior plumbing consisting of more than a sink with water when used no more than three consecutive weeks per year and no more than 60 total days per year; certain water-treatment systems; qualifying flow increases caused by exempt water-treatment systems; certain transportation-project subdivisions; and operation of a failed supply consisting of one groundwater source serving one single-family residence.
The statute states that permit applications must use a Secretary-prescribed form and be supported by documents and information required by rule.
No application fee or fee schedule was established in the opened statutory sources.
“a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: [...] (5) constructing a new building or structure;”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — State of Vermont potable-water and wastewater permitting for new buildings or structures, new or modified potable-water or wastewater systems, new or modified connections, and changes of use that increase design flows or modify operational requirements, including projects in Caledonia County.
“(a) Except as provided in this section and sections 1974 and 1978 of this title, a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: [...] (3) constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system; [...] (5) constructing a new building or structure;”
Required — New buildings and structures, new or modified potable water supplies or wastewater systems, campground changes affecting such systems, connections, and changes of use that increase design flows or modify operational requirements in Caledonia County.
“(a) Except as provided in this section and sections 1974 and 1978 of this title, a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before:”
Required — Construction, replacement, or modification of a statewide potable water supply or wastewater system, including a septic system; also specified building, subdivision, failed-system, connection, and use-change activities.
“Except as provided in this section and sections 1974 and 1978 of this title, a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: [...] (3) constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”
Septic inspectionLimited
Substantially completed permitted potable-water-supply and wastewater systems, including septic systems.
A permit is not valid for a substantially completed system until the Secretary receives an installation certification from an installer or licensed designer.
The certification must state that the installation-related information is true and correct and that the system was installed in accordance with the permitted design and all permit conditions.
“No permit issued by the Secretary shall be valid for a substantially completed potable water supply and wastewater system until the Secretary receives a statement from an installer or a licensed designer certifying that [...] the potable water supply and wastewater system: [...] (2) were inspected;”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Wastewater systems in Caledonia County whose design includes components subject to ongoing inspection or reporting, including innovative/alternative units or sand filters.
“may or will have on going inspection/reporting requirements such as an I/A unit or sand filter”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Existing do-it-yourself or otherwise off-grid wastewater systems associated with property in Caledonia County.
The official presentation states that pre-2007 systems may remain allowed if no flow modifications to the building use have been introduced.
If the system endangers human health or the environment and is a failed system, it must be replaced.
New construction, modifications, increased flows, or failed-system replacement may require a state wastewater permit.
historical cutoff: 2007-01-01 (The source describes systems pre-2007 as potentially allowed if no flow modifications occurred.)
“These may be pre 2007 & allowed if no flow modifications to the building use have been introduced.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Off-grid wastewater disposal systems that qualify as potable-water-supply or wastewater systems under Vermont law.
“Primitive camps with no interior plumbing consisting of more than a sink with water, that are used no more than three consecutive weeks per year and no more than a total of 60 days per year, shall be exempt. This exemption does not apply to seasonal camps.”
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
Municipal water and wastewater connections serving property in Caledonia County.
Municipal allocation approval is issued by the municipality when the project is served by a municipal sewer collection system or treatment plant.
The state wastewater and potable-water permitting process applies to municipal water and sewer connections.
The existence and service area of a particular municipal water or sewer system must be confirmed for the property and municipality.
“Sewer allocation approvals are issued by the municipality”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Conditional — New or modified connections to potable-water or wastewater systems statewide.
“making a new or modified connection to a new or existing potable water supply or wastewater system; or”
Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
Farm structures associated with required agricultural practices in Vermont municipalities; the exemption does not cover dwellings for human habitation.
The exemption applies to required agricultural practices, including construction of farm structures, as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
The person must notify the municipality of the intent to build the farm structure.
The person must abide by setbacks approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
No municipal permit is required for the farm structure.
A farm structure excludes a dwelling for human habitation.
Municipal panels may still impose reasonable conditions in land-development decisions to protect wildlife habitat, threatened or endangered species, or other natural, historic, or scenic resources.
“A bylaw under this chapter shall not regulate: (A) required agricultural practices, including the construction of farm structures”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Division of land into two or more lots or other divisions for sale, development, or lease in Vermont municipalities that adopt subdivision bylaws.
A municipality may regulate subdivision; the statute does not require every municipality to adopt subdivision bylaws.
Subdivision bylaws must establish standards and procedures for approval, modification, or disapproval of plats.
Specific local standards and review procedures vary by municipality.
“a municipality may regulate the division of a lot or parcel of land into two or more lots”
Driveway accessRequired
Driveway, entrance, or approach work affecting a Vermont State or town highway right-of-way, including grade, drainage, or adjacent land work that diverts water onto the right-of-way.
A written permit is required from the Agency for State highways.
A written permit is required from the legislative body or its designee for town highways.
Permit conditions must require compliance with applicable local highway and land-use ordinances and regulations.
Reasonable entrance and exit generally may not be denied except on limited-access highways or as necessary for stated safety, service-level, infrastructure, planning, or regional-plan reasons.
For development contributing 75 or more peak-hour trips to State highways or class 1 town highways, reasonable service-level conditions may be imposed.
peak-hour-trip threshold: >= 75 trips (Applies to development contributing 75 or more peak-hour trips to State highways or class 1 town highways.)
“without a written permit from the Agency, in the case of State highways, or the legislative body or designee of a municipality”
Building in a floodplainRequired
New construction or substantial improvement in flood hazard or other hazard areas subject to Vermont municipal flood hazard bylaws.
Flood hazard bylaws must require compliance with State Flood Hazard Area Standards and additional National Flood Insurance Program requirements.
Where a flood hazard bylaw applies with another bylaw, compliance is prerequisite to a zoning permit.
Where a flood hazard bylaw applies without a zoning bylaw, a flood hazard area or hazard area permit is required.
Before granting a permit, the application must be sent to the Agency of Natural Resources or designee with proof of receipt.
The permit cannot be granted until 30 days have elapsed after mailing or ANR has delivered comments.
The rule does not apply to planting projects deemed permitted under subsection 4424(c), subject to the statutory exceptions for larger undertakings involving structures, berms, or other physical disturbance and certain forestry operations.
ANR review waiting period: >= 30 days (No waiting period is required if the Agency delivers comments earlier.)
“either 30 days have elapsed following the mailing or the Agency or its designee delivers comments on the application.”
Short-term rentalsLimited
Short-term rentals throughout Vermont; municipalities may regulate their operation by ordinance or bylaw.
Municipal regulation may not adversely impact the availability of long-term rental housing.
The statutory definition is a furnished house, condominium, dwelling room, or self-contained dwelling unit rented to transient, traveling, or vacationing members of the public for fewer than 30 consecutive days and more than 14 days per calendar year.
This claim establishes municipal authority to regulate, not a statewide determination that every short-term rental is permitted or prohibited.
maximum rental duration in statutory definition: < 30 consecutive days · annual rental-duration threshold in statutory definition: > 14 days per calendar year
“To regulate by means of an ordinance or bylaw the operation of short-term rentals within the municipality”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Act 250 land-use permit and permit-amendment applications statewide in Vermont.
Applicants are also responsible for newspaper publication and land-record recording costs.
Construction applications are charged $6.65 per $1,000 of the first $15,000,000 of construction costs and $3.12 per $1,000 above $15,000,000.
An additional $0.75 per $1,000 of the first $15,000,000 is paid to the Agency of Natural Resources for review.
Applications involving creation of lots are charged $125 per lot.
The minimum fee is $187.50 for original applications and $62.50 for amendment applications.
The maximum fee for an individual permit or permit-amendment application is $165,000.
Municipal and State governmental projects do not pay these fees except publication and recording costs.
Residential development in a designated Vermont neighborhood or neighborhood development area is charged no more than 50 percent of the otherwise applicable fee, payable within 30 days after the permit is issued or denied.
Fee-refund requests must be submitted within 90 days after withdrawal; refund percentages depend on whether withdrawal occurs before or after a hearing.
A supplemental fee may be required if actual construction costs were understated; failure to pay may support permit revocation.
construction fee, first $15,000,000: per 6.65 USD per $1,000 construction cost · construction fee above $15,000,000: per 3.12 USD per $1,000 construction cost · ANR review fee: per 0.75 USD per $1,000 of first $15,000,000 construction cost · lot creation fee: per 125 USD per lot · minimum original application fee: 187.5 USD · minimum amendment application fee: 62.5 USD · maximum individual permit or amendment fee: <= 165000 USD
“For applications for projects involving construction, $6.65 for each $1,000.00 of the first $15,000,000.00 of construction costs”
Permit processPartial
Land development in Vermont municipalities where bylaws have been adopted; the statute establishes the baseline municipal permit process but does not provide every local application form or review requirement.
A permit is required only within the area affected by adopted bylaws.
The administrative officer may issue a permit only if it conforms to the bylaws.
A certificate of occupancy is required only if the adopted bylaws so provide.
Permits do not take effect until the applicable appeal period has passed, or until appeals are resolved as specified by statute.
Applications and permits must state that State permits may also be required before construction begins.
Local bylaws may impose additional procedures and requirements.
permit appeal-effect period: until applicable appeal period passes or appeal is resolved (Environmental Division appeal may delay effectiveness until the court rules on a stay or 15 days expire, whichever comes first.)
“No land development may be commenced within the area affected by the bylaws without a permit issued by the administrative officer.”
Campground & park staysTemporary only (with conditions)
Recreational vehicles used as camping or travel dwelling units at Vermont recreational campgrounds or camping parks.
The setting must be a recreational campground or camping park.
The statutory definition describes transient residence for seasonal or short-term vacation or recreational purposes.
The campsite must be designed for temporary set-up of the recreational vehicle or other portable/mobile camping unit.
“A recreational campground or camping park is property where transient residence is offered or provided for seasonal or short-term vacation or recreational purposes on which may be located cabins, tents, or lean-tos, or campsites designed for temporary set-up of portable or mobile camping, recreational, or travel dwelling units, including tents, campers, and recreational vehicles such as motor homes, travel trailers, truck campers, and van campers.”
county zoning authorityNone
County authority to adopt zoning for unincorporated land statewide.
The zoning enabling provision grants authority to a municipality, not to a county.
For Chapter 117, municipality is defined as a town, city, incorporated village, or unorganized town or gore; counties are not included.
Municipal zoning bylaws apply within the municipality and may include unorganized towns or gores, but this does not confer zoning authority on a county government.
““Municipality” means a town, a city, or an incorporated village or an unorganized town or gore.”
county building authorityNone
County authority to require building permits or adopt building codes for residential construction in unincorporated areas statewide.
24 V.S.A. § 3101 grants local building-code authority to the mayor and board of aldermen of a city, selectboard of a town, or trustees of an incorporated village.
For Chapter 117, municipality means a town, city, incorporated village, or unorganized town or gore; counties are not included.
State fire and building safety rules administered by the Commissioner of Public Safety remain applicable where their statutory scope reaches the premises; that state authority is not county authority.
“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.”
Inside cities and towns in Caledonia County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Building permitRequired
Land development, including construction, within the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont.
A zoning permit must be issued by the administrative officer before land development is commenced.
The ordinance qualifies the requirement with specific exemptions and applicable statutory limitations.
Accepted agricultural practices and accepted management practices for silviculture are exempt under 24 V.S.A. § 4413(d).
Power generation and transmission facilities regulated under 30 V.S.A. § 248 by the Vermont Public Utility Commission are exempt.
Normal maintenance and repair of an existing structure without exterior alteration or expansion or change of use is exempt.
Interior alterations or repairs that do not alter or expand the exterior or result in a different or expanded use are exempt.
Certain exterior alterations outside designated design review districts are exempt when they do not change the structure footprint or height or result in a different or expanded use.
Small residential accessory structures are exempt only when they are less than 100 square feet, less than 10 feet high with a flat roof or less than 12 feet high with a peaked roof, and outside required setbacks.
Adding floor space at a residence is exempt only when the land surface area covered or occupied by the structure and the number of dwelling units do not change.
The ordinance lists additional exemptions for hunting, fishing, and trapping; minor grading and excavation associated with road, driveway, lawn, or yard maintenance; outdoor recreational trails without structures or parking areas; certain temporary sales; public-right-of-way infrastructure maintenance; specified antennas; and other listed activities.
small residential accessory structure floor area: < 100 square feet (must also satisfy height and setback limits) · small residential accessory structure height, flat roof: < 10 feet (must be outside required setback areas) · small residential accessory structure height, peaked roof: < 12 feet (must be outside required setback areas)
“202.01 PERMITS REQUIRED FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT. Unless specifically exempted or to the extent limited by this ordinance or applicable statute, no land development may be commenced without a zoning permit theretofore issued by the administrative officer.”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Use or occupancy of land or structures in the Town of St. Johnsbury after creation, erection, change, conversion, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged use or structure; the current ordinance uses the term certificate of zoning compliance.
Use or occupancy is unlawful until the certificate of zoning compliance is issued by the administrative officer.
The certificate must state that the use conforms to the ordinance and permit conditions.
The administrative officer issues the certificate when the use conforms to the zoning permit and ordinance.
The administrative officer may condition issuance on completion of specified requirements within a specified time.
The ordinance footnote states that the residential exception was removed and that building codes are not within the scope of certification.
“207.01 It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any land or structure, or part thereof to the extent it is created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure after the effective date of this ordinance, until a certificate of zoning compliance is issued therefore by the administrative officer stating that the use of the structure or land conforms to the requirements of this ordinance and conditions of the permit.”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land development within the Town of St. Johnsbury, a municipality in Caledonia County.
Applicants must apply for zoning approval and pay the stated $30 application fee.
A zoning administrator reviews the complete application.
Approval may be followed by a 15- or 30-day appeal period before the permit is effective.
The page states that construction and environmental permits from both Town and State may also be required.
The page states that the $10 recording fee is included in the application fee and that a $10 fee applies to recording the certificate.
zoning application fee: 30 USD · permit appeal period: 15 or 30 days · certificate recording fee: 10 USD
“Contact the Office of Planning and Zoning; review your intended land use and development plans; apply for zoning approval and pay the application fee of $30. Your complete zoning application is reviewed by the zoning administrator.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Present (with conditions) — Land-use and zoning administration within the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County.
“The rules governing land use and subdivision of property, the zoning bylaws that regulate use of property and, both the land use code and Town ordinance.”
Zoning districtsPublished
The Town of St. Johnsbury zoning and overlay district structure.
The source is an official Town zoning-bylaw draft dated 2024; it should not be treated as proof that every listed district is currently effective without confirmation of adoption.
District boundaries are established by incorporated zoning and overlay maps.
base zoning districts: Downtown (DWN); Mixed Use (MU); Residential 15 (R-15); Residential 10 (R-10); Residential 5 (R-5); Residential 1 (R-1); Commercial (COM); General Business (GB); Health Services (HS); Rural (RL); Conservation (CON) · overlay districts: Design Control (DCO); Flood Hazard (FHO)
“These regulations establish the following overlay districts in the Town of St. Johnsbury: (A) Design Control (DCO) (B) Flood Hazard (FHO)”
Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Lots in St. Johnsbury zoning districts, with standards varying by district.
The ordinance states it applies to all land in the Town of St. Johnsbury.
The document is identified as a 2025 draft; enactment and effective-date confirmation remains necessary.
The Rural district requires subtraction of specified unbuildable land when determining required lot area and subdivision capacity.
Residential 15 lot size: >= 4350 square feet · Residential 10 lot size: >= 4350 square feet · Residential 5 lot size: >= 8700 square feet · Residential 1 lot size: >= 1 acre · Rural lot size: >= 2 acres (Unbuildable wetlands and buffers, mapped flood hazard areas, steep slopes of 25% or greater, and legally restricted land must be subtracted.) · Conservation lot size: >= 10 acres
“Lot size: 4,350 sf min [...] Lot size: 2 acres min [...] Lot size: 10 acres”
SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)
Street and lot-line setbacks in St. Johnsbury zoning districts.
Standards vary by zoning district.
The document is identified as a 2025 draft; enactment and effective-date confirmation remains necessary.
“Street setback: 10 ft min
Lot line setback: 10 ft min [...] Street setback: 50 ft min
Lot line setback: 50 ft min”
Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)
Maximum lot coverage in St. Johnsbury zoning districts.
Standards vary by zoning district.
The document is identified as a 2025 draft; enactment and effective-date confirmation remains necessary.
Residential 15 lot coverage: <= 80 percent · Residential 10 lot coverage: <= 70 percent · Residential 5 lot coverage: <= 60 percent · Residential 1 lot coverage: <= 30 percent · Rural lot coverage: <= 20 percent · Conservation lot coverage: <= 10 percent
“Lot coverage: 80% max [...] Lot coverage: 70% max [...] Lot coverage: 60% max [...] Lot coverage: 30% max [...] Lot coverage: 20% max [...] Lot coverage: 10% max”
Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)
Maximum building height in St. Johnsbury zoning districts.
Standards vary by zoning district.
The document is identified as a 2025 draft; enactment and effective-date confirmation remains necessary.
Residential 15 building height: <= 60 feet · Residential 10 building height: <= 40 feet · Residential 5 building height: <= 40 feet · Residential 1 building height: <= 40 feet · Rural building height: <= 40 feet · Conservation building height: <= 30 feet
“Building height: 60 ft max [...] Building height: 40 ft max [...] Building height: 30 ft max”
Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)
Travel trailers and campers parked or occupied within the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County.
Travel trailers may be parked in side or rear yards no closer than six (6) feet to any lot line if currently licensed.
A travel trailer so parked shall not be used as living quarters.
A visitor may utilize a camper for sleeping purposes only for periods of less than two (2) weeks, and the camper may be attached to utilities during that exception.
Motor vehicles, trailers and watercraft otherwise may not be parked in the front, side or rear yard except in approved locations.
The Development Review Board may, after public notice and a hearing, allow vehicles to be parked closer than six (6) feet to lot lines if screened from view off site and may allow more unregistered vehicles to be parked on a lot.
Development or expansion of a travel trailer park requires site plan and conditional use approval.
Travel trailer park lots must be at least 2,500 square feet and 20 feet wide; access roads must be at least 30 feet wide with a compacted gravel surface at least 20 feet wide; each lot must have water-supply and sewage-disposal attachments; and required street, dwelling, and flood-prone-area standards apply.
minimum setback for currently licensed travel trailers in side or rear yards: >= 6 feet (The DRB may allow closer parking after public notice and a hearing if vehicles are screened from view off site.) · maximum visitor camper sleeping period: < 2 weeks (Sleeping only; this is the exception to the prohibition on use as living quarters and utility attachment.) · travel trailer park approval: site plan and conditional use approval · minimum travel trailer park lot area: >= 2500 square feet · minimum travel trailer park lot width: >= 20 feet
“A travel trailer so parked shall not be used as living quarters and shall not be attached to any utilities except for periods of less than two (2) weeks when a visitor may utilize a camper for sleeping purposes only.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Limited — Recreational-vehicle occupancy in a travel trailer park in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County.
“temporary living quarters”
Prohibited — Use of a parked travel trailer or camper as living quarters on a lot in the Town of St. Johnsbury, including residential, mixed-use, and health-services zoning districts.
“A travel trailer so parked shall not be used as living quarters”
Limited — Development or expansion of a travel trailer park in the Town of St. Johnsbury.
“travel trailer parks without site plan and conditional use approval.”
Camping on your landLimited
Temporary camping in a travel trailer park in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County.
A travel trailer park may not be developed or expanded without site plan and conditional use approval.
Trailer camps must provide individual trailers, access roads, parking, water-supply attachments, and sewage-disposal attachments.
Placement and occupancy of a manufactured home on its own lot in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
A manufactured home on its own lot is treated as a one-unit dwelling and must meet the zoning requirements applicable to one-unit dwellings.
The Development Review Board may waive applicable dimensional standards for replacement of an existing manufactured home only on a lot outside the Flood Hazard Overlay District.
The applicant must demonstrate that an equivalent-footprint and equivalent-dimension replacement is not a standard product available for purchase in the area.
Any setback encroachment must be minimized.
Privacy fencing or other screening is required when setback encroachment would place the new home closer to an adjoining dwelling than the original home.
The home must meet HUD Standards for Manufactured Home Installation.
For a new, previously unoccupied home, Form HUD 309 must be submitted to the administrative officer before occupancy.
For a previously occupied home, the homeowner must self-certify HUD-compliant installation before occupancy; if installed in a manufactured home park, the park owner must also sign off.
The section does not apply to manufactured homes displayed in a manufactured-home sales establishment or allowed as a temporary structure.
“A manufactured home on its own lot will be considered a one-unit dwelling and must meet the same zoning requirements applicable to one-unit dwellings except:”
Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)
One accessory dwelling unit within or appurtenant to a primary one-unit dwelling on an owner-occupied lot in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County.
A zoning permit is required.
The owner may live in either the primary dwelling or the ADU.
The ADU must be clearly subordinate, provide independent living facilities, meet dimensional standards, and meet state water-supply and wastewater-disposal standards.
The ADU may be within a pre-existing nonconforming structure if the applicable conditions are met.
maximum ADU area: <= 900 square feet or 30% of primary dwelling habitable floor area, whichever is greater · minimum off-street parking spaces: >= 2 spaces (one for the primary dwelling and one for the accessory unit) · maximum ADUs per primary dwelling: 1 unit
“One (1) accessory dwelling unit”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision of land within the Town of St. Johnsbury.
No land may be subdivided without Development Review Board approval.
For proposed subdivisions comprising four or more lots, final subdivision application and approval are required.
The Development Review Board may waive final subdivision application and approval for subdivisions comprising four or fewer lots that meet district lot-size and road-frontage requirements on an existing town road or highway.
The document is identified as a 2025 draft; enactment and effective-date confirmation remains necessary.
Final subdivision threshold: >= 4 lots (Final subdivision application and approval are required for proposed subdivisions comprising four or more lots.)
“No land may be subdivided except with DRB approval. [...] For proposed subdivisions comprising four (4) or more lots final subdivision application and approval is required. The Development Review Board may waive Final Subdivision application and approval for subdivisions comprising four (4) or fewer lots, that meet district lot requirements for size and road frontage on an existing town road or highway.”
Driveway accessRequired
Projects in St. Johnsbury requiring a new entry onto Town roads or altering a public right-of-way.
A permit from the Department of Public Works Director is required.
The application form may be obtained from the Zoning Administrator and submitted with the zoning permit application.
“Any project requiring new entry onto Town roads or alters the public right of way requires a Permit issued by the Department of Public Works Director, application forms are available from the Zoning Administrator and may be submitted in conjunction with the zoning permit application.”
Building in a floodplainLimited
Development in Special Flood Hazard Areas and floodways identified by current FEMA/NFIP maps adopted by the Town of St. Johnsbury.
Before issuing a zoning permit for new buildings, substantial improvements in the Special Flood Hazard Area, or land development in the floodway, the application must be submitted to Vermont ANR.
The zoning permit may issue only after ANR comments are received or 30 days have expired from mailing the application to ANR, whichever occurs first.
The ordinance summary table classifies new structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas as conditional-use review and new structures in floodways as prohibited.
Development displacing floodwater storage generally requires compensatory storage, subject to stated exceptions including certain additions or accessory structures of 200 square feet or less.
ANR review waiting period: 30 days (permit may issue earlier upon receipt of ANR comments) · small accessory structure exception: <= 200 square feet (must have no more than minimal effect on floodwater storage and must not divert floodwaters onto adjacent property)
“A zoning permit may be issued only following receipt of comments from the ANR or the expiration of thirty (30) days from the date the application was mailed to ANR, whichever is sooner.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Town of St. Johnsbury zoning permit applications.
Fees are effective July 1, 2025.
All fees are nonrefundable.
Fees are doubled if the proposed use or construction began before submission of a complete application.
Accepted agricultural practices, including farm structures, are exempt if the stated written-notification and setback conditions are met.
certificate of compliance fee: 50 USD · sign fee: 75 USD per sign · one or two dwelling uses base fee: 100 USD (plus $0.05 per square foot) · all other uses base fee: 100 USD (plus $0.10 per square foot) · no permit required written determination: 30 USD · subdivision fee: 50 USD per lot · development review board review fee: 200 USD (if applicable)
“APPLICATION FEES (effective July 1, 2025) (ALL FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE)”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Zoning-permit applications for land use and construction in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont.
The town publishes a zoning-permit application and application requirements.
The application must be filed with the Administrative Officer on municipal forms and accompanied by required fees.
Applications must include a sketch plan showing lot dimensions, existing and proposed structures, accesses, easements and rights-of-way, setbacks, water and wastewater systems, and other information required by the Administrative Officer.
Conditional-use, variance, and appeal applications require adjoining-property-owner names and addresses and addressed stamped envelopes.
Site-plan-review applications require at least two sets of site-plan maps and supporting data, including existing conditions, proposed changes, and supporting data requested by the Development Review Board or Administrative Officer.
The application states that it is a local permit application only and that other permits may be necessary; applicants are directed to contact the State Regional Permit Specialist and the State Department of Labor and Industry to determine whether state permits are required.
A Certificate of Compliance is required after specified construction, use, occupancy, or land-use changes, but the stated requirement does not apply to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, residential accessory structures or uses, and exempt agricultural structures.
A Department of Public Works permit is required for projects requiring new entry onto Town roads or altering the public right-of-way.
Application fees are identified as effective July 1, 2025 and are nonrefundable; the application states that fees double when proposed use or construction begins before a complete application is submitted.
Accepted agricultural practices, including farm structures, are exempt from zoning fees if the stated written-notification and setback conditions are met.
The application states that permits are valid for three years and construction must commence within that period, but elsewhere refers to a two-year expiration time limit; this internal inconsistency should be confirmed with the town.
Small accessory structures not permanently anchored or on a permanent foundation and 100 square feet or less, qualifying inflatable pools without additional supports or framing, and qualifying fences six feet high or less are identified as not requiring zoning permits; permanent decking associated with an inflatable pool does require a zoning permit.
permit validity period: 3 years (The same form elsewhere refers to a two-year expiration time limit.) · appeal deadline to Development Review Board: 15 days (Written appeal from the Administrative Officer decision under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117, §4465; stated fee is $200.) · appeal deadline to Environmental Court: 30 days (Applies to an interested person who participated in the municipal regulatory proceeding and appeals a Development Review Board decision under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117, §4471; stated fee is $250.)
“An application for a zoning permit shall be filed with the Administrative Officer on form(s) provided by the municipality.”
Set by your town or city, not the county
In Vermont, zoning is adopted by each town or city, so Caledonia County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your town or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.
Minimum dwelling size
Tiny homes
Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.
Living off-grid in Caledonia County, Vermont
Is Caledonia County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Caledonia County scores 85/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: 16 operating mines and sparse surroundings — about 17,945 people within a 30-minute drive.
Do you need a building permit in Caledonia County, Vermont?
Caledonia County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) - Wastewater System & Potable Water Supply Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.
How much does land cost in Caledonia County, Vermont?
Land in Caledonia County runs about $3,395 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Caledonia County?
Caledonia County gets about 44.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.3% of years.
How remote is Caledonia County?
A representative private-land location has about 17,945 people within a 30-minute drive and 753,852 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.
