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Vermont

Vermont Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Vermont.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Vermont

Sources last checked July 2026

Vermont sets no statewide cap on security deposit amounts, and the deposit must be returned within 14 days of termination under 9 V.S.A. § 4461 — one exception is Burlington, which by local ordinance limits deposits to one month's rent. No-cause termination of a periodic tenancy scales with how long the tenant has stayed: 60 days' notice under two years, 90 days at two years or more, under 9 V.S.A. § 4467(c). Vermont has no statewide rent control, but Burlington is again the exception, having enacted its own local rent control administered by the city's planning department.

  • 14-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • Under 9 V.S.A. § 4467(c), notice requirements for terminating a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy in Vermont depend on the length of the tenancy.
  • Vermont has no statewide law capping the amount of rent increases.
  • 60-day advance written notice required for rent increases
  • Vermont's 9 V.S.A. § 4461 governs security deposits but does not impose a statewide cap on the amount a landlord may collect.
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Security Deposit Limits

Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Vermont?

Vermont's 9 V.S.A. § 4461 governs security deposits but does not impose a statewide cap on the amount a landlord may collect. Landlords may charge any amount as a security deposit for standard residential tenancies. However, the City of Burlington limits security deposits to one month's rent by local ordinance. Regardless of amount, the landlord must return the deposit, along with an itemized written statement of any deductions, within 14 days of the date the landlord discovers the tenant has vacated or abandoned the unit, or within 14 days of the tenant's stated move-out date if the landlord was notified. A landlord who fails to return the deposit with the statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the deposit and is liable for the full amount plus reasonable attorney's fees.

9 V.S.A. § 4461

Eviction Notice Requirements

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Vermont?

Under 9 V.S.A. § 4467, a landlord must provide written notice before filing an eviction action. For nonpayment of rent, the tenant must be given a 14-day notice to pay the overdue amount or vacate. For other material lease violations, the tenant must receive a 30-day notice with an opportunity to cure. For no-cause terminations of periodic tenancies, the notice period depends on the length of the tenancy: at least 60 days for tenancies under two years, and at least 90 days for tenancies of two years or more (9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)). Vermont prohibits retaliatory evictions and lockouts under 9 V.S.A. §§ 4465 and 4463. Self-help evictions, including unlawful entry, lock changes, or utility cutoffs, are prohibited.

9 V.S.A. §§ 4463, 4465, 4467

Rent Increase Notice Periods

Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Vermont?

Under 9 V.S.A. § 4455(b), a landlord must provide at least 60 days' written notice to a tenant before implementing a rent increase on a month-to-month tenancy. The notice must state the new rent amount and the date it takes effect. Vermont does not cap the amount of the increase statewide, but if the increase exceeds a certain threshold (5.4% for 2025), tenants become eligible for mediation services through the state. Rent may not be increased during the term of a fixed-period lease unless the lease agreement expressly allows it. A rent increase that is retaliatory in nature — issued in response to the tenant asserting legal rights — may be challenged under Vermont's anti-retaliation statutes.

9 V.S.A. § 4455(b)

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Vermont?

Vermont has no statewide law capping the amount of rent increases. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, provided they give at least 60 days' written notice before the increase takes effect (9 V.S.A. § 4455). However, the City of Burlington has enacted a local rent control ordinance that limits annual rent increases. Burlington's rent control is administered by the city's Department of Planning and Zoning. Increases exceeding the annual mediation threshold (5.4% in 2025, tied to housing cost indices) entitle tenants to request mediation statewide. Retaliatory rent increases may be challenged under 9 V.S.A. § 4465.

9 V.S.A. § 4455; 9 V.S.A. § 4465

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Vermont?

Under 9 V.S.A. § 4467(c), notice requirements for terminating a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy in Vermont depend on the length of the tenancy. For tenancies of less than two years, at least 60 days' written notice must be provided. For tenancies of two years or more, at least 90 days' written notice is required. These notice periods apply to both landlord-initiated no-cause terminations and tenant-initiated terminations. For fixed-term leases, the tenancy ends at the conclusion of the stated term; no separate termination notice is required unless the lease stipulates otherwise. Vermont's longer notice periods for long-term tenants provide additional stability for renters who have established themselves in a unit.

9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)

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