Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Burlington, VT?

**Yes**, Burlington requires a Short-Term Rental Registration. You need to register annually with the Department of Permitting and Inspections. The registration fee is $110. Operating without this verified permit can result in fines. Ensure compliance with all local regulations before listing your property. (53 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in Burlington, VT?

**9% TOT** is the current local transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Burlington. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city in addition to state taxes. Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax. (51 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in Burlington, VT?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Burlington, but with strict regulations. You need to register your property and operate it as your primary residence. Short-term rentals must comply with local zoning and safety standards. Failure to adhere to these regulations may result in fines and penalties. (50 words)

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Burlington?

**Yes**, you need to live in the property to rent it on Airbnb in Burlington. The city requires short-term rentals to be the owner's primary residence. This regulation ensures that short-term rentals do not displace long-term housing options and maintain neighborhood integrity. Always verify compliance before listing. (52 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in Burlington?

**No**, renters cannot host on Airbnb in Burlington. The city's regulations stipulate that only property owners who occupy the property as their primary residence can operate a short-term rental. This restriction aims to ensure accountability and prevent unauthorized subletting of rental units. Always verify compliance before listing. (52 words)

Burlington

Strict

VermontUpdated Apr 13, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Burlington strictly regulates short-term rentals, requiring they be the owner's primary residence. Hosts must register annually with the Department of Permitting and Inspections and pay a 9% local STR tax in addition to state taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 88

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Burlington, the home must be your primary residence where you live at least 185 days a year. You cannot rent out secondary homes or investment properties as short-term rentals. You need to apply for an annual permit that costs $110 and pass a safety inspection. Once live, you must ensure the 9% city tax is paid monthly, though platforms like Airbnb usually collect this for you automatically.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$110

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You cannot list a property as an STR if it is not your primary residence.
2If you own a duplex, you can only STR the second unit if you live in the first unit.
3Burlington enforces a 9% Short-Term Rental Tax which is separate from the state sales tax.
4Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) created after April 2022 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
5Even if Airbnb collects your tax, you MUST still file a monthly 'Zero' return to the city.
6Failure to register can result in fines of up to $500 per day.
7Your registration number must be clearly visible in your listing description.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Burlington, VT: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Burlington: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Burlington, VT: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements20 rules

Burlington: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Burlington STR warning: If you own a duplex, you can only STR the second unit if you live in the first unit.
Burlington requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 1,000,000. Proof of liability insurance must be available upon request.

Application process11 rules

Burlington extended permit requirement: A $2.00 per unit 'bed tax' per day may also apply in some contexts, but the base registration is $110.
Burlington, VT extended permit requirement: A $2.00 per unit 'bed tax' per day may also apply in some contexts, but the base registration is $110.

Fees & costs1 rule

Burlington charges a registration fee of $110 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Burlington: Even if Airbnb collects your tax, you MUST still file a monthly 'Zero' return to the city.
Vermont has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Burlington: Burlington enforces a 9% Short-Term Rental Tax which is separate from the state sales tax.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Burlington, VT: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Burlington: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Burlington limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Burlington requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows must meet code, Electrical systems must be up to date.

Penalties4 rules

Burlington: Failure to register can result in fines of up to $500 per day.
Burlington: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Burlington, VT: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Burlington: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Burlington exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Burlington

Strict

VermontUpdated Apr 13, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 88

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$110

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You cannot list a property as an STR if it is not your primary residence.
2If you own a duplex, you can only STR the second unit if you live in the first unit.
3Burlington enforces a 9% Short-Term Rental Tax which is separate from the state sales tax.
4Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) created after April 2022 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
5Even if Airbnb collects your tax, you MUST still file a monthly 'Zero' return to the city.
6Failure to register can result in fines of up to $500 per day.
7Your registration number must be clearly visible in your listing description.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Burlington, VT: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Burlington: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Burlington, VT: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements20 rules

Burlington: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Burlington STR warning: If you own a duplex, you can only STR the second unit if you live in the first unit.
Burlington requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 1,000,000. Proof of liability insurance must be available upon request.

Application process11 rules

Burlington extended permit requirement: A $2.00 per unit 'bed tax' per day may also apply in some contexts, but the base registration is $110.
Burlington, VT extended permit requirement: A $2.00 per unit 'bed tax' per day may also apply in some contexts, but the base registration is $110.

Fees & costs1 rule

Burlington charges a registration fee of $110 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Burlington: Even if Airbnb collects your tax, you MUST still file a monthly 'Zero' return to the city.
Vermont has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
Burlington: Burlington enforces a 9% Short-Term Rental Tax which is separate from the state sales tax.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Burlington, VT: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Burlington: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Burlington limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Burlington requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows must meet code, Electrical systems must be up to date.

Penalties4 rules

Burlington: Failure to register can result in fines of up to $500 per day.
Burlington: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Burlington, VT: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Burlington: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Burlington exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Burlington, VT?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Burlington, VT?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Burlington, VT?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Burlington?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Burlington?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Burlington, VT?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Burlington, VT?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Burlington, VT?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Burlington?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Burlington?

Disclaimer