Best Places to Live in Vermont

Off-grid & homestead laws in Vermont

How Vermont treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. Scores feed the national rankings; rules often vary by county.

• Building-code freedomStatewide energy/fire only; single-family largely exempt from structural code.ICC / NAHB code-adoption summaries (2026) ↗local-option
• Greywater reuseReuse via indirect-discharge permitting; no by-right tier.Greywater Action / EPA REUSExplorer (2026) ↗permitted
• Rainwater harvestingLegal for non-potable outdoor purposes.NCSL (2026) ↗unrestricted
• Zoning / land-use freedomAct 250 statewide development review + Act 200 goals.American Planning Association / Lincoln Institute (2026) ↗statewide-planning
• Water rightsReporting + GW permits for large users; agriculture/domestic exempt.National Agricultural Law Center (2026) ↗regulated-riparian
• Right-to-farm protectionAccepted-practices protection.National Agricultural Law Center (2026) ↗moderate
• Cottage-food / home sales~$30k cap; shelf-stable (2025 update).Institute for Justice / Forrager (2026) ↗limited
• Property tax burdenMedian ~1.7% effective rate across 14 counties.Census ACS (county median) (2023) ↗very-high
• Income tax burdenGraduated, top 8.75%.Tax Foundation (2026) ↗graduated-high
• Homestead exemptionHomestead education rate + income-based credit (≤$8k).Lincoln Institute / state revenue departments (2026) ↗moderate

General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

All 14 Vermont counties, ranked

1. 1Essex County71
2. 2Franklin County65
3. 3Orleans County64
4. 4Grand Isle County64
5. 5Lamoille County64
6. 6Caledonia County63
7. 7Orange County61
8. 8Addison County61
9. 9Washington County56
10. 10Rutland County56
11. 11Windham County54
12. 12Bennington County52
13. 13Chittenden County52
14. 14Windsor County52