I own a home in Vermont
The homestead declaration, property taxes, deeds, and value notices.
VERMONT GUIDE
Life in Vermont comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From the annual homestead declaration and town land records to the Probate Division, mud season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Vermont-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Vermont government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Vermont
Vermont requires every homeowner using their property as a primary residence to file Form HS-122, the Homestead Declaration, every single year by April 15 - this isn't optional and isn't a one-time filing; skip it and your property defaults to the higher nonhomestead education tax rate automatically, with a penalty (3-8%, depending on local rates) added if you file late or not at all. Filing this declaration is what gets you the lower homestead education property tax rate instead of the nonhomestead rate applied to second homes, camps, and commercial property. If you meet income limits (household income up to $115,400 for the 2026 filing year), also file the Property Tax Credit Claim alongside your declaration - it can be worth up to $8,000, split between education and municipal property tax portions, applied directly as a credit on your tax bill. Vermont's property values are set by local town Listers, not a county assessor; if you disagree with your assessment, you attend your town's Grievance Day to challenge it. Deeds are recorded in your town's Land Records, kept by the Town Clerk - there's no county-level recording office in Vermont.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, town Clerk and Listers offices
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, town land records, and recording fees.
I'm buying or selling property
Vermont closings typically go through an attorney, with deeds recorded in the town's Land Records, kept by the Town Clerk - there's no county recording office here, since Vermont counties mostly just house the courts rather than running property records. Vermont charges a property transfer tax at recording, calculated as a percentage of the sale price, generally paid by the buyer. A title search through the town's Land Records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy and move in, file Form HS-122, the Homestead Declaration, by April 15 if this is your primary residence - you must file this every single year, not just once, or your property defaults to the higher nonhomestead tax rate. If you're purchasing woods or farmland, ask specifically whether it's enrolled in Vermont's Current Use Program (also called Use Value Appraisal), which taxes qualifying agricultural and forest land based on its use value rather than market value - but removing land from Current Use triggers a land use change tax, so understand this obligation before assuming enrollment is entirely risk-free.
Sources: town Clerk offices, Vermont Dept. of Taxes
I own woods or farmland
Current Use enrollment, timber, sugaring leases, and property taxes.
I own woods or farmland
Vermont's Current Use Program (formally the Use Value Appraisal Program) lets qualifying agricultural and forest land be taxed at its "use value" - what the land is worth for farming or forestry - rather than its full market value, a genuinely significant benefit for working farms and timberland near Vermont's more developed areas, where market value can run well above agricultural worth. Applications are due by September 1, filed with the state (via myVTax), not your town. Enrolled forestland requires a forest management plan and periodic compliance, while agricultural land needs to meet active-use standards. If you're leasing land for sugaring (maple syrup production), understand how that arrangement interacts with your Current Use status, since active management matters for continued eligibility. This isn't a no-strings benefit: developing the land, subdividing it, or otherwise removing it from qualifying use triggers a land use change tax, recapturing a portion of the tax savings - a genuine financial obligation to weigh before assuming enrollment is entirely risk-free if your plans might change. Vermont's mud season (roughly March-April, when frost comes out of unpaved roads) can genuinely affect access to rural woods and farmland - plan accordingly if you need reliable access during that window.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Current Use Program
Someone passed away
The Probate Division, wills, estates, and filing steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Vermont is handled by the Probate Division of Superior Court, part of Vermont's unified state court system, without a separate probate-only court. Vermont offers a simplified small estate process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs settle without opening full probate. Whether an estate needs full administration depends on its size, whether there's a will, and whether heirs agree. If the deceased was receiving the homestead education tax rate or a Property Tax Credit on their home, neither transfers automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently file Form HS-122 for their own homestead declaration, since Vermont requires this filing every single year regardless of who previously held it. If the estate includes woods or farmland enrolled in Current Use, transferring ownership generally requires notifying the state to keep that use-value assessment intact, so don't assume it carries over silently. Property records for real estate in the estate are held in the town's Land Records, kept by the Town Clerk, separate from the Probate Division handling the case.
Sources: Vermont Judiciary, Vermont Statutes Title 14 (Decedents' Estates)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in Vermont come from any town Clerk - apply in any town regardless of residency, with no waiting period, so a license can be issued and used the same day. Divorce is filed in Family Division of Superior Court, and Vermont uses a genuinely distinctive two-tier residency system: either spouse needs just 6 months of Vermont residency to file, but the court cannot actually grant the final decree until one spouse has resided in Vermont continuously for a full year - meaning a recent arrival can file relatively quickly but must wait out the full year before the divorce can be finalized. Vermont's primary no-fault ground requires 6 consecutive months of living separate and apart, alongside several fault-based grounds. After the judge signs the decree, Vermont imposes a 90-day "nisi" period before it becomes absolute - waivable in stipulated (uncontested) cases. Courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard applied to all property regardless of when or how it was acquired. Parents with minor children generally must attend a parenting education program.
Sources: Vermont Judiciary, town Clerk offices, Vermont Statutes Title 15
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, the property tax credit, benefits, and estate planning.
I'm caring for an aging parent
Make sure your parent files Form HS-122, the Homestead Declaration, every single year by April 15 if they own and live in their Vermont home - this isn't a one-time filing, and missing it defaults their property to the higher nonhomestead tax rate with a penalty attached. If their household income is at or below the annual limit (roughly $115,400 for the 2026 filing year, adjusted periodically), also file the Property Tax Credit Claim alongside the declaration - it can be worth up to $8,000, applied directly against their property tax bill as a state payment. This credit isn't limited to seniors specifically, but it's genuinely one of the most valuable programs available to Vermont homeowners on a fixed or modest income, and many eligible people don't realize they qualify. If your parent's property value seems inaccurate, Grievance Day (held locally, once a year) is their opportunity to challenge the town Listers' assessment. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself, when necessary, goes through the Probate Division of Superior Court.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, town Clerk and Listers offices, Vermont Dept. of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Vermont Dept. of Health Vital Records office, a state office, though town Clerks can also assist for events in their town. Marriage records are held by whichever town Clerk issued the license. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through each town's Land Records, kept by the Town Clerk; there's no county-level recording office in Vermont, since counties mostly exist to house the court system rather than run property records. Probate and estate records come from the Probate Division of Superior Court. Other civil and criminal court records come from Vermont's unified Superior Court system. Business entity records are filed with the Vermont Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation records come from your town's Listers, and Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit filings go through the Vermont Dept. of Taxes directly rather than your town.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Health, town Clerk and Listers offices, Vermont Judiciary, Vermont Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Vermont starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. Most businesses register with the Vermont Dept. of Taxes for a sales tax license if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local business licenses, zoning, and permitting are genuinely town matters in Vermont, since towns handle most everyday services while counties largely just house the court system - check with your specific town, not the county. If your business involves agriculture, forestry, or maple sugaring on Current Use enrolled land, understand how commercial activity interacts with your Current Use eligibility, since the land must meet active-use standards to keep its use-value assessment. Business real estate is assessed by your town's Listers, the same local officials who value residential property, and any disagreement with the assessed value goes through your town's annual Grievance Day process.
Sources: Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Dept. of Taxes, IRS
How-To Guides for Vermont
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Vermont
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Vermont Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Vermont works differently. Here's what to know.
Towns Run Daily Life
Vermont counties mostly house the courts; town offices handle most everyday services.
Towns Run Daily Life
Vermont's 14 counties exist mostly to house the state court system - county courthouses hold Superior Court sessions and administer things like the sheriff's office - but the actual day-to-day services people rely on are almost entirely a town matter. Property tax records, land records, business licensing, local permitting, marriage licenses, and general civic administration all run through your specific town office, not a county government. This means Vermont's roughly 250 towns and cities are genuinely the primary unit of local government here, far more so than the county, in contrast to most other states where county government handles a substantial share of these functions. If you're looking for a "county" service the way you might in another state - a county Clerk, county Assessor, county Recorder - that specific office often simply doesn't exist in Vermont; the equivalent function is handled locally by your town. When in doubt about which office handles something in Vermont, your town office is almost always the right first call, not the county.
Sources: Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Vermont Judiciary
The Probate Division
Estates, wills, and guardianships go through the Probate Division of Superior Court.
The Probate Division
Vermont handles estates, wills, guardianships, and related matters through the Probate Division of Superior Court, part of the state's unified court system rather than a standalone probate court. This is genuinely centralized compared to states with county-run probate offices - Vermont's court system is organized statewide with divisions by function (Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Environmental) rather than by fully independent county courts. If you're settling a Vermont estate, you're filing with the Probate Division serving the county where the deceased lived, using standardized statewide procedures and forms rather than county-specific variations. Vermont offers a simplified small estate process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs settle without opening full probate for modest estates. Because this runs through Vermont's unified judiciary rather than a separate county-level office, procedures and forms stay genuinely consistent regardless of which county's Probate Division you're working with - a meaningful simplification compared to states where probate procedure varies significantly county to county.
Sources: Vermont Judiciary, Vermont Statutes Title 14
Land Records at the Town Clerk
Deeds are recorded in each town's land records, kept by the town clerk.
Land Records at the Town Clerk
Property records in Vermont - deeds, mortgages, liens, plats - are recorded and kept in each town's Land Records, maintained by the Town Clerk. There's no county Recorder of Deeds in Vermont the way most states organize property records, since counties here mostly just house the court system rather than running land records. This means a title search in Vermont runs through the specific town where the property sits, not a countywide database, and if you're researching a property that's changed hands across town boundaries (rare, but the JSON notes some homesteads do cross town lines, requiring a declaration filed in each), you may genuinely need to check records in more than one town. Each of Vermont's roughly 250 towns and cities maintains its own Land Records independently, so the exact search process, indexing method, and digitization level vary - some towns offer online search tools, many still require an in-person visit for older records, particularly in Vermont's smaller, more rural towns. If you're buying Vermont property, your title company or attorney will know which specific town's Land Records to check, but it's worth knowing this term specifically, since searching for a county "Recorder of Deeds" here won't lead anywhere.
Sources: Vermont Secretary of State, town Clerk offices
The Homestead Declaration
Vermonters file a homestead declaration every year to get the homestead tax rate.
The Homestead Declaration
Vermont requires every homeowner using their property as a primary residence to file Form HS-122, the Homestead Declaration, every single year by April 15 - this is a genuinely distinctive, annual obligation that most states don't require, since most homestead exemptions elsewhere are one-time filings that carry forward automatically. The declaration identifies your property as a Vermont homestead for education property tax purposes, unlocking the homestead education tax rate rather than the higher nonhomestead rate applied to second homes, camps, and commercial property. Filing late (after April 15 but before the October 15 extended deadline) still classifies your property as a homestead but triggers a penalty of 3-8%, depending on how your town's homestead and nonhomestead rates compare; missing the October deadline entirely means your property is classified nonhomestead for the year, charged the higher rate, and assessed additional penalties. If you meet income limits, file the Property Tax Credit Claim alongside your declaration for a credit worth up to $8,000 against your property tax bill. Because this filing happens annually rather than once, it's genuinely easy to forget - set a yearly reminder rather than assuming a prior year's filing carries forward.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, Vermont Statutes Title 32 §5410
Listers Set Your Value
Town listers assess property, and grievance hearings are where you challenge them.
Listers Set Your Value
Vermont doesn't use a county Assessor the way most states do - instead, each town has its own Listers (an elected or appointed local position, sometimes just one person, sometimes a small board) responsible for setting property values for tax purposes. This is a genuinely local, town-level function rather than a county or regional one, meaning your specific town's Listers determine your assessed value, not a countywide office. If you disagree with your assessment, Vermont's process for challenging it is also local: each town holds an annual Grievance Day, a specific day (or short window) when property owners can formally contest their valuation directly with the Listers before the tax roll is finalized for the year. This is a real, accessible process - showing up on Grievance Day with evidence like comparable sales or documentation of property condition issues is how Vermonters actually get valuations corrected, and further appeal to the Board of Civil Authority is available if you're not satisfied with the Grievance Day outcome. Because this is town-specific, the exact date, format, and even how formal the Grievance Day process is can vary from one Vermont town to the next - check with your own town for the specific date and procedure each year.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, town Listers offices
Current Use for Land
Enrolled farm and forest land is taxed on its use value instead of market value.
Current Use for Land
Vermont's Current Use Program, formally the Use Value Appraisal Program, lets qualifying agricultural and forest land be taxed at its "use value" - what the land is worth for actual farming or forestry - rather than full market value, a genuinely significant benefit given how much market value can exceed agricultural or timber value near Vermont's more developed corridors. Applications are due by September 1, filed with the state directly through myVTax, not with your town. Forestland enrollment requires an active forest management plan on file, detailing how the timber is being managed, while agricultural land needs to meet active-use production standards. This is a real, meaningful benefit for working farms and managed woodlots, and it's a significant part of how Vermont has preserved its rural character against development pressure. It isn't cost-free if circumstances change: developing enrolled land, subdividing it below qualifying thresholds, or otherwise removing it from Current Use triggers a land use change tax, recapturing a real portion of the tax savings accumulated while enrolled - understand this genuine financial obligation before assuming enrollment carries no future cost if your plans for the land might shift.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Current Use Program
The questions Vermont residents actually ask
Vermont county records for court matters are accessible through the Vermont Judiciary's online portal at vermontjudiciary.org, which provides Superior Court case information statewide. Property records are held at the town level, not the county level, and many Vermont towns provide online land record searching through town websites or the Vermont Land Records portal. The Vermont Secretary of State provides free online business entity searching. Vital records can be ordered from the Vermont Vital Records Office or obtained from the relevant Town Clerk. For Vermont county records not available online, the Public Records Act at Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5 requires agencies to respond within three business days for inspection.
Vermont birth and death certificates from 1955 onward are maintained by the Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office in Burlington. Certified copies can be ordered online, by mail, or in person at the Burlington office. Town Clerks hold local vital records for events occurring in their municipality, and many hold records going back to the late 18th or early 19th century, well before state registration began. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. For pre-1955 records, the Vermont State Archives holds early town vital record collections from many municipalities.
Vermont county records do not include property recording. Deeds, mortgages, plats, and other real property instruments are recorded with the Town Clerk in the town where the property is located, following Vermont's strong town governance tradition. Each of Vermont's 246 municipalities maintains its own land records office. Many towns provide online land record searching through town websites or the Vermont Land Records statewide portal. Property tax assessment records are held by the municipal Lister, not a county office. Researchers seeking Vermont property records must work with town-level offices rather than county offices.
The Vermont Judiciary provides online access to court case information through its public portal at vermontjudiciary.org. Coverage includes Superior Court Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate Division cases statewide. Case details include party names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Actual case documents require contacting the Superior Court Clerk in the relevant county. Vermont county records for probate and estate matters are held by the Probate Division of the Superior Court in each county, reflecting the 2010 court reorganization that merged the former Probate Court into the Superior Court system. Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by Vermont court rules.
The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration in Montpelier holds transferred county and state records including early vital records, naturalization records, and probate files from many counties. The Vermont Historical Society in Barre holds extensive manuscript collections and town histories. Individual town clerks hold local vital records dating to the 18th century in the oldest municipalities. FamilySearch has digitized significant Vermont county records and town vital records. The New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston holds additional Vermont collections. Because statewide vital registration began only in 1955, town clerk records are the essential source for pre-1955 Vermont family research.
Vermont's Public Records Act at Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5 provides public access to government records held by all Vermont agencies including county and town offices. Submit a written or oral request to the records officer at the relevant county or town agency. The agency must permit inspection within three business days, one of the shorter inspection deadlines among state open records laws. No reason for the request is required. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the superior court. The Vermont Attorney General's office provides guidance on public records compliance for state and local agencies.
The County Clerk in Vermont maintains court-related records and certain county administrative documents. Vermont county records held by the County Clerk include civil court case files, historical naturalization records (from before federal courts took over this function in 1906), county administrative records, and in some counties historical deed and court records from earlier periods. The County Clerk does not maintain property recording records (held by town clerks), vital records (held by town clerks and the state), or property tax records (held by municipal Listers and Tax Collectors). Vermont county records at the County Clerk level are primarily judicial and administrative in nature.
Marriage records in Vermont are maintained at two levels. The Town Clerk in the municipality where the marriage took place holds the local record. The Vermont Vital Records Office holds statewide records from 1955 onward. Historical marriage records before 1955 are found in town vital registers and church records held by individual town clerks and the Vermont State Archives. FamilySearch provides indexed Vermont marriage records from many towns and time periods. Vermont's marriage records at the town level extend back to the 18th century in the oldest municipalities, providing one of the longest continuous local marriage record traditions in New England.
Vermont criminal history records are maintained by the Vermont Crime Information Center within the Department of Public Safety. The public can request a criminal background check through the VCIC online portal for a fee. Individual case-level criminal records within Vermont county records are accessible through the Vermont Judiciary online portal, which shows Superior Court Criminal Division case information statewide. Certified criminal history information requires a formal VCIC request. Some Vermont records may be expunged under Vermont expungement statutes upon petition to the Superior Court in the county of conviction.
Many Vermont land records are available free online through town websites and the Vermont Land Records statewide portal, which aggregates land evidence records from participating municipalities. Searching in person at the Town Clerk's office is generally free. The Vermont State Archives provides free in-person access to historical town records and county records. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized Vermont land records and town vital records from many municipalities. The Vermont Judiciary portal provides free access to court case information. Vermont land records at the town level extend back to the 1760s in many municipalities, with much of this historical material increasingly available online.
The Northeast Kingdom is an informal name for the three-county region of Essex, Orleans, and Caledonia counties in Vermont's far northeast corner, known for its rural character, low population, and distinctive culture. Vermont county records from the Northeast Kingdom reflect a region of small towns, logging operations, dairy farms, and border communities along the Quebec and New Hampshire lines. Essex County in particular, the least populous county east of the Mississippi, presents research challenges due to minimal staff and limited digital resources. Researchers working with Northeast Kingdom county records should contact the relevant county and town offices in advance to confirm availability and access procedures.
Fees for Vermont county records and their town-level equivalents vary by record type and jurisdiction. Vermont's Public Records Act limits copying fees to actual costs of reproduction. Superior Court Clerk fees for certified copies of court documents are set by Vermont court rules. The Vermont Vital Records Office charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Town Clerk fees for land record copies and local vital record copies vary by municipality but are regulated by state statute. Municipal Lister fees for certified assessment records vary by town. Contacting the relevant county or town office before submitting a request confirms current fee schedules.
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Important Deadlines in Vermont
Vermont's Homestead Declaration is a genuinely annual requirement - unlike most states' one-time homestead filings, Vermont requires you to declare every single year by April 15 (the same date as your Vermont income tax return), filed on Form HS-122.
Important Deadlines in Vermont
Vermont's Homestead Declaration is a genuinely annual requirement - unlike most states' one-time homestead filings, Vermont requires you to declare every single year by April 15 (the same date as your Vermont income tax return), filed on Form HS-122. Property owners who owned and occupied their home as of April 1 must file by April 15 to be taxed at the lower homestead education tax rate rather than the higher nonhomestead rate; late filing is accepted through October 15, but a real penalty applies. If you're seeking a Property Tax Adjustment (Vermont's income-based property tax relief), you must file your Homestead Declaration first - the two are on the same HS-122 form, making this straightforward if you remember to file at all. Property is assessed as of April 1 each year by your town's Listers. Notices of Disabled Veteran exemption eligibility are due to the Lister's Office by May 1. Current Use (Land Use) Program applications, which tax qualifying farm and forest land on its productive use rather than market value, are generally due by September 1. Property tax bills are typically mailed mid-August with two installments - commonly due the first Friday in November and first Friday in May - though check your specific town, since Vermont's town-by-town system means schedules can vary.
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes, town Lister and Town Clerk offices, 32 V.S.A. §5410 and §3752
Assessment Grievances in Vermont
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Vermont's grievance process is genuinely town-specific and time-limited.
Assessment Grievances in Vermont
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Vermont's grievance process is genuinely town-specific and time-limited. Your town's Listers finalize property values each June and mail Change of Appraisal notices to owners whose assessments changed; from the date those notices are sent or posted, you generally have just 14 days to notify the Lister's Office and set up a grievance appointment - a real, tight window, so act immediately once notices go out in your town. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Grievance hearings are held before the Listers themselves. If you're still not satisfied after your grievance hearing, appeal to the town Board of Civil Authority (BCA), composed of the Selectboard and Justices of the Peace, is available - typically within 14 days of the grievance result being mailed. Beyond the BCA, further appeal to the State Board of Appraisers or directly to the county Superior Court remains possible, though the latter route typically takes longer and genuinely benefits from legal advice. Because Vermont's assessment calendar is genuinely compressed between the June Grand List finalization and grievance deadlines, mark your town's specific dates as soon as notices are posted rather than waiting.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Vermont Dept. of Taxes Division of Property Valuation and Review, town Lister offices and Board of Civil Authority, 32 V.S.A. §4111 and §4404
Public Records Access in Vermont
Vermont's Public Records Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Vermont
Vermont's Public Records Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 3 business days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Because Vermont's counties genuinely have limited government function - mostly housing the courts, with towns handling nearly everything else - real estate records, called town land records here, are recorded and searchable at each specific town Clerk's office rather than a county Recorder. Estate and probate matters run through the Probate Division of Vermont Superior Court, which has statewide jurisdiction but sits in units serving specific districts. Business entity records are filed with the Vermont Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation and grievance records go through your specific town's Listers, an elected or appointed local body - genuinely a town-level function rather than county-level. If you're researching farm or forest land, checking whether it's enrolled in Current Use (taxed on productive use rather than market value) is worth doing separately, since enrollment carries real rollback tax consequences if the use later changes. If a Public Records Act request is denied, disputes can ultimately go to Superior Court.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Vermont Secretary of State, 1 V.S.A. §315 et seq. (Public Records Act), town Clerk and Lister offices
Flood & Storm Help in Vermont
Vermont's flood and winter storm risk genuinely peaks winter through spring, with real, serious flood risk during spring snowmelt and during "mud season" - the roughly six-week stretch when frozen ground thaws and unpaved rural roads become genuinely difficult or impassable, a distinctly Vermont seasonal hazard worth understanding if you live off a dirt or Class 4 road.
Flood & Storm Help in Vermont
Vermont's flood and winter storm risk genuinely peaks winter through spring, with real, serious flood risk during spring snowmelt and during "mud season" - the roughly six-week stretch when frozen ground thaws and unpaved rural roads become genuinely difficult or impassable, a distinctly Vermont seasonal hazard worth understanding if you live off a dirt or Class 4 road. Vermont has genuine, extensive recent experience with major flooding, particularly in river valleys and low-lying town centers, so know your specific flood zone regardless of how far you feel from a major waterway. Winter storms bring real risk from heavy snow and ice across the Green Mountains and surrounding valleys, with mountain and Northeast Kingdom communities often facing the most severe conditions. Your town's Emergency Management coordinator (often a Selectboard-appointed role in smaller towns) coordinates local response and maintains current road and evacuation information. After a flood or storm causes damage, your town's Listers can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individuals and municipalities. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory), and flood insurance specifically is essential in river-adjacent and low-lying areas, since standard homeowner's policies typically exclude flood damage.
Sources: Vermont Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, town Emergency Management coordinators and Lister offices
New to Vermont?
As a new Vermont resident, check with the Vermont DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle.
New to Vermont?
As a new Vermont resident, check with the Vermont DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle. If you've purchased a home, remember Vermont genuinely requires you to file a Homestead Declaration every single year by April 15 (not just once) to get the lower homestead education tax rate - it's filed on Form HS-122, the same form used for the income-based Property Tax Adjustment if you qualify. Register to vote through your town Clerk. Remember Vermont counties genuinely have limited governmental function - mostly housing the courts - while your town handles nearly everything else: property assessment (through elected or appointed Listers), land records, and most day-to-day local government. Property tax bills are typically mailed mid-August, commonly due in two installments around the first Friday in November and first Friday in May, though check your specific town's schedule. If you're purchasing farm, forest, or sugarbush land, ask about Current Use enrollment, which taxes qualifying land on its productive use rather than full market value - a real, meaningful benefit, though enrollment carries rollback tax consequences if you later change the land's use. Property deeds are recorded in your town's land records, kept by the town Clerk.
Sources: Vermont DMV, Vermont Dept. of Taxes, town Clerk and Lister offices
Find the services available in your county
Vermont laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 14 Vermont counties
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Addison CountyMiddleburyBennington CountyBenningtonCaledonia CountySt. JohnsburyChittenden CountyBurlingtonEssex CountyGuildhallFranklin CountySt. AlbansGrand Isle CountyNorth HeroLamoille CountyHyde ParkOrange CountyChelseaOrleans CountyNewportRutland CountyRutlandWashington CountyMontpelierWindham CountyNewfaneWindsor CountyWoodstock
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Sources and References
- Vermont Public Records Act, Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5
- Vermont State Archives and Records Administration: bgs.vermont.gov/archives
- Vermont Vital Records Office: healthvermont.gov/health-statistics-vital-records/vital-records
- Vermont Judiciary: vermontjudiciary.org
- Vermont Secretary of State, Corporations: sos.vermont.gov/corporations
- Vermont Historical Society: vermonthistory.org
- Vermont Crime Information Center: dps.vermont.gov/criminal-justice-services/vcic
14COUNTIES COVEREDAcross Vermont
650K+RESIDENTS REPRESENTEDVermont population covered
1,000+TOPICS & GUIDESAnswers for real life
VerifiedSOURCED TO OFFICIAL RESOURCESEvery guide links to primary government sources