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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Vermont
  6. ·
  7. Woodstock

Woodstock

Moderate
VermontUpdated Feb 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Woodstock, VT are regulated by a municipal ordinance requiring annual registration and safety compliance. Hosts must collect a 1% local option tax in addition to the state's 9% rooms tax, and occupancy is generally capped at 10 guests.

Restriction level

Severity 18
Classification
Moderate
18
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $150
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Woodstock, you must first register your property with the town's Planning & Zoning department. You'll need a Vermont tax account and proof of insurance that specifically covers short-term rentals. Once you apply online and pay the $150 annual fee, you must follow the safety rules, like having working smoke detectors and posting an emergency contact. Stays are limited to 30 days or less, and you must display your permit number on your listing.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$150
Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1You must have a Vermont Meals and Rooms Tax account before applying.
  2. 2The maximum occupancy is strictly 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra, capped at 10.
  3. 3Rentals of 30 days or more are exempt from the STR ordinance but require different tax treatment.
  4. 4Local contact persons must be able to respond to complaints within 1 hour.
  5. 5Permit numbers MUST be included in the header of any online advertisement.
  6. 6Fire safety inspections may be required by the State Division of Fire Safety if you host 8 or more people.
  7. 7Woodstock differentiates between 'unhosted' and 'hosted' rentals for certain zoning rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility8 rules
  • Woodstock does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Woodstock limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
  • Woodstock prohibits STRs in the following property types: Hotels, Motels, Inns, Bed and Breakfasts.
  • Woodstock: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements18 rules
  • Woodstock has different permit classes: Owner-Occupied (55 cap) and Non-Owner Occupied (55 cap). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
  • Woodstock: Registration must be renewed annually, with the primary application window opening August 1st.
Application process8 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Woodstock: To host an Airbnb in Woodstock, you must apply for a local permit during specific registration windows. You are limited to owning only one short-term rental property in the town, and there is a total cap on permits, so availability is limited. You'll need to pay a high annual fee (starting at $750 for a small owner-occupied unit) and get a state fire safety inspection. Stays under 14 days per year are exempt from these local rules, but for everything else, you must display your permit in your listing and your unit.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • Woodstock charges a registration fee of $500 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1000 (Base fee is $500 for owner-occupied and $1,000 for non-owner occupied. Additional occupancy fees apply: $250 (1-4 guests), $1,000 (5-8 guests), $2,000 (9+ guests).).
  • Woodstock: Fees are tiered: a base fee plus an occupancy-based fee (e.g., $500 base + $250 for 1-4 people).
Taxes1 rule
  • Woodstock charges a Local Option Rooms Tax of 1%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and Vrbo collect the 9% State Rooms Tax and the 1% Local Option Tax for Woodstock.
Limits & restrictions6 rules
  • Woodstock: Limit of one STR registration per natural person or business entity.
  • Woodstock: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
  • Woodstock limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Woodstock: Strict cap of 55 permits for owner-occupied and 55 for non-owner-occupied properties.
  • Woodstock enforces quiet hours: 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Safety requirements2 rules
  • Woodstock: A State Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy is mandatory for all registrations.
  • Woodstock requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Change of use permit from Vermont Division of Fire Safety required, Posted garbage and parking rules.
Penalties2 rules
  • Woodstock: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
  • Woodstock enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 - $800. Second offense: Increased fines and potential revocation. Daily fine: Each day of violation is a separate offense. Maximum fine: $800 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Woodstock exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Rentals for 14 days or fewer per year are exempt from registration.
  • Woodstock: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Woodstock

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Obtain Vermont Tax Account

Register for a Vermont Meals and Rooms Tax account via the Dept of Taxes.

1 weekFree
Official resource
Step 2

Complete Safety Self-Certification

Ensure property meets all fire and safety codes, including egress and detectors.

1 dayFree
Step 3

Submit Online Application

Apply through the Woodstock OpenGov portal with proof of insurance and tax ID.

2 weeks$150
Documents needed
  • Insurance certificate
  • Tax ID
  • Site plan
Official resource

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

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