Vermont Landlord-Tenant Laws: Key Rental Rules (2026)
Security deposits, notice periods, landlord entry, and other key rental rules in Vermont, each linked to the state law it comes from.
By the ListMyHomes.com™ Editorial TeamPublished Last reviewed
This page summarizes the main landlord-tenant rules in Vermont. Each rule in the table below links to the law it comes from.
Key rules at a glance
| Rule | Vermont |
|---|---|
| Where these laws apply | 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 (Residential Rental Agreements) sets no county, town, city, municipality or population limit on where it applies. Unless set up to avoid the chapter, it does not apply to occupancy at an institution providing medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious or similar service; occupancy by a purchaser under a contract of sale; occupancy by a member of a fraternal, social or religious organization in its building; transient occupancy in a hotel, motel or lodgings while the occupancy is subject to the tax under 32 V.S.A. chapter 225; occupancy by a condominium owner or a cooperative's proprietary lessee; rental of a mobile home lot governed by 10 V.S.A. chapter 153; transient residence in a campground; transient hotel, motel or lodging stays by recipients of General Assistance or Emergency Assistance temporary housing assistance, and certain stays placed in connection with health care treatment or recovery; or occupancy without right or permission by a person who is not a tenant. 9 V.S.A. § 4452(a) |
| Security deposit limit | |
| Where deposits are held | No rule on where or how a deposit is held in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. A town or municipality may adopt an ordinance on security deposits, but the ordinance may not limit how a deposit is held. When the landlord's interest in the unit ends, the deposit is transferred to the new landlord, who must give the tenant actual notice of the new landlord's name and address and that the deposit has been transferred. 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 (no provision); 9 V.S.A. § 4461(f), (g) |
| Returning the deposit | The landlord must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing any deductions within 14 days from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit, or from the date the tenant vacated if the tenant gave the landlord notice of that date. For seasonal rental of a unit not intended as a primary residence, the deadline is 60 days. The statement and any payment are hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address. A landlord who does not return the deposit with a statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any of it; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c), (d), (e) |
| Deposit deductions | The landlord may keep all or part of the deposit for unpaid rent; damage to the landlord's property, unless it is normal wear and tear or the result of actions or events beyond the tenant's control; unpaid utility or other charges the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord or to a utility; and the cost of removing articles the tenant abandoned in the unit. 9 V.S.A. § 4461(b) |
| Interest on deposits | Not required by 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. A town or municipality ordinance on security deposits may authorize the payment of interest on a deposit. 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 (no provision); 9 V.S.A. § 4461(g) |
| Landlord entry notice | A landlord may enter with the tenant's consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld. Otherwise, the landlord may enter between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice to inspect, to make necessary or agreed repairs, alterations or improvements, to supply agreed services, or to show the unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors. Entry without consent or notice is allowed only when the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger to any person or to property. 9 V.S.A. § 4460 |
| Notice to end a month-to-month lease | Without a written rental agreement, a landlord may end a tenancy for no cause by actual notice of the termination date; when rent is paid monthly, the date must be at least 60 days after the notice for a tenant who has lived there continuously for two years or less, and at least 90 days after it for longer; when rent is paid weekly, at least 21 days. With a written rental agreement, a no-cause notice must be given at least 30 days before the end of the stated term if the tenancy has lasted two years or less and at least 60 days before it if longer; for a written week-to-week agreement, at least seven days. For one or more rooms rented in a person's own residence with shared living space, either party may end the arrangement with at least 15 days' actual notice if rent is paid monthly, or seven days if weekly. Unless a written rental agreement or other law says otherwise, a tenant may end a tenancy by actual notice given at least one rental payment period before the termination date. 9 V.S.A. §§ 4467(c), (e), (h), 4456(d) |
| Rent-increase notice | At least 60 days' actual notice; the increase takes effect on the first day of the rental period after the notice period. An owner of privately owned age-restricted residential property not licensed under 33 V.S.A. chapter 71 or 8 V.S.A. chapter 151 must also notify the Department of Housing and Community Development and all affected residents in writing, on the Department's form, at least 60 days before the increase takes effect; without that notice the increase is unenforceable. This does not apply to publicly subsidized affordable housing monitored by a State or federal agency for rent limitations. 9 V.S.A. §§ 4455(b), 4468a |
| Late fees | |
| Notice for unpaid rent | The landlord may end a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by actual notice of a termination date at least 14 days after the notice. The rental agreement does not end if the tenant pays or tenders the rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made or tendered. Accepting a partial payment does not waive the landlord's remedies for nonpayment. 9 V.S.A. § 4467(a) |
| Rent control | No cap on rent amounts or rent increases in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 (no provision) |
| Required landlord disclosures | Before entering a rental agreement, the landlord must disclose whether any part of the premises offered for rent is in a Federal Emergency Management Agency mapped special flood hazard area, in a separate written notice given at or before signing the lease, substantially in the form prescribed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. 9 V.S.A. § 4466 Federal law: For housing built before 1978 (with limited exceptions): before the tenant is bound by the lease, the landlord must give the EPA lead-hazard pamphlet and disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards and any available reports. 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR 745.107 |
| Fair housing protected classes | Race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disability, intending to live with one or more minor children, receiving public assistance, and being a victim of abuse, sexual assault or stalking. Sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, citizenship, immigration status, receiving public assistance and being a victim of abuse, sexual assault or stalking appear in Vermont's law but not in the federal list. 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(1); 42 U.S.C. § 3604 |
What this means for renters
Before you sign, compare the lease's deposit amount, rent due date, and late-fee terms with the rules above. At move-in, record the unit's condition with dated photos. When you move out, give the written notice your lease and the rules above call for, leave a forwarding address, and keep copies of everything you send and receive.
What this means for landlords who manage their own rental
List the unit with its rent, deposit, and lease terms. Screen every applicant by the same written criteria, within fair-housing law. Collect the deposit and give notices following the rules above, and keep records of the unit's condition at move-in and move-out.
List your rental on ListMyHomes.com for one flat fee, or browse rentals in Vermont listed directly by owners.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Vermont?
No limit set by 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. See the source in the table above.
How long does a Vermont landlord have to return a security deposit?
The landlord must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing any deductions within 14 days from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit, or from the date the tenant vacated if the tenant gave the landlord notice of that date. For seasonal rental of a unit not intended as a primary residence, the deadline is 60 days. The statement and any payment are hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address. A landlord who does not return the deposit with a statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any of it; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. See the source in the table above.
How much notice must a Vermont landlord give before entering?
A landlord may enter with the tenant's consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld. Otherwise, the landlord may enter between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice to inspect, to make necessary or agreed repairs, alterations or improvements, to supply agreed services, or to show the unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors. Entry without consent or notice is allowed only when the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger to any person or to property. See the source in the table above.
How much notice ends a month-to-month lease in Vermont?
Without a written rental agreement, a landlord may end a tenancy for no cause by actual notice of the termination date; when rent is paid monthly, the date must be at least 60 days after the notice for a tenant who has lived there continuously for two years or less, and at least 90 days after it for longer; when rent is paid weekly, at least 21 days. With a written rental agreement, a no-cause notice must be given at least 30 days before the end of the stated term if the tenancy has lasted two years or less and at least 60 days before it if longer; for a written week-to-week agreement, at least seven days. For one or more rooms rented in a person's own residence with shared living space, either party may end the arrangement with at least 15 days' actual notice if rent is paid monthly, or seven days if weekly. Unless a written rental agreement or other law says otherwise, a tenant may end a tenancy by actual notice given at least one rental payment period before the termination date. See the source in the table above.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Vermont?
At least 60 days' actual notice; the increase takes effect on the first day of the rental period after the notice period. An owner of privately owned age-restricted residential property not licensed under 33 V.S.A. chapter 71 or 8 V.S.A. chapter 151 must also notify the Department of Housing and Community Development and all affected residents in writing, on the Department's form, at least 60 days before the increase takes effect; without that notice the increase is unenforceable. This does not apply to publicly subsidized affordable housing monitored by a State or federal agency for rent limitations. See the source in the table above.
How much can a Vermont landlord charge for late rent?
No limit or grace period in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. See the source in the table above.
How much notice must a Vermont landlord give when rent is unpaid?
The landlord may end a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by actual notice of a termination date at least 14 days after the notice. The rental agreement does not end if the tenant pays or tenders the rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made or tendered. Accepting a partial payment does not waive the landlord's remedies for nonpayment. See the source in the table above.
Does Vermont have rent control?
No cap on rent amounts or rent increases in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. See the source in the table above.
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