The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 20: Internal Security and Public Safety

Chapter 172: Rental Housing Health and Safety

• § 2676. Definition

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “Rental housing” means:

  (A) a “premises” as defined in 9 V.S.A. § 4451 that is subject to 9 V.S.A. chapter 137 (residential rental agreements); and

  (B) a “short-term rental” subject to 18 V.S.A. chapter 85, subchapter 7.

  (2) “Short-term rental” has the same meaning as in 18 V.S.A. § 4301. (Added 2021, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 7, 2022; amended 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 100, eff. June 17, 2024.)

• § 2677. Rental housing; rules; inspections; penalty

  (a) Rules. The Commissioner of Public Safety may adopt rules to prescribe standards for the health, safety, sanitation, and fitness for habitation of rental housing that the Commissioner determines are necessary to protect the public, property owners, and property against harm.

  (b) Inspections.

  (1) After adopting rules pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner shall design and implement a complaint-driven system to conduct inspections of rental housing.

  (2) When conducting an inspection, the Commissioner shall:

  (A) issue a written inspection report on the unit or building that:

  (i) contains findings of fact that serve as the basis of one or more violations;

  (ii) specifies the requirements and timelines necessary to correct a violation;

  (iii) provides notice that the landlord is prohibited from renting the affected unit to a new tenant until the violation is corrected; and

  (iv) provides notice in plain language that the landlord or agents of the landlord must have access to the rental unit to make repairs as ordered by the Commissioner consistent with the access provisions in 9 V.S.A. § 4460;

  (B) provide a copy of the inspection report to the landlord, to the person who requested the inspection, and to any tenants who are affected by a violation:

  (i) electronically, if the Department has an electronic mailing address for the person; or

  (ii) by first-class mail, if the Department does not have an electronic mailing address for the person;

  (C) if an entire building is affected by a violation, provide a notice of inspection directly to the individual tenants, and may also post the notice in a common area, that specifies:

  (i) the date of the inspection;

  (ii) that violations were found and must be corrected by a certain date;

  (iii) how to obtain a copy of the inspection electronically or by first-class mail; and

  (iv) if the notice is posted in a common area, that the notice shall not be removed until authorized by the Commissioner; and

  (D) make the inspection report available as a public record.

  (c) Penalties. If the person responsible for a violation does not comply with the requirements and timelines specified in an inspection report issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner may impose an administrative penalty that is reasonably related to the severity of the violation, not to exceed $1,000.00 per violation. (Added 2021, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 7, 2022.)

• § 2678. Short-term rentals; health and safety disclosure

  (a) The Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety shall prepare concise guidance on the rules governing health, safety, sanitation, and fitness for habitation of short-term rentals in this State and provide the guidance to any online platform or travel agent hosting or facilitating the offering of a short-term rental in this State.

  (b) Any online platform or travel agent hosting or facilitating the offering of a short-term rental in this State shall make available the guidance under subsection (a) of this section to a short-term rental operator in this State.

  (c) A short-term rental operator shall:

  (1) physically post the guidance under subsection (a) of this section in a conspicuous place in any short-term rental offered for rent in this State; and

  (2) provide the guidance under subsection (a) of this section as part of any offering or listing of a short-term rental in this State. (Added 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 101, eff. June 17, 2024.)