Bolthole Index

Addison County, Vermont

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Ferrisburgh, Vermont

Town of Ferrisburgh is a town in Addison County, Vermont. Town of Ferrisburgh adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Ferrisburgh’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Town of Ferrisburgh come from the state health agency. 21 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 7, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Addison County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Ferrisburgh

Town of Ferrisburgh’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Land development, including new construction, inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • The town describes this as a zoning/land-development permit requirement.
    “All land development requires a permit, and the administrator can provide the most current regulations and guidance.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Completed home construction inside Ferrisburgh town before occupancy.

    • The town page requires finalization of applicable inspections before living in the home; it does not identify every inspection type or sequence.
    “Ensure all permits and inspections are finalized before living in the home”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Homes constructed inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • Required after construction is completed and before the home is occupied.
    “Required after construction is completed before the home can be occupied”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land development inside Ferrisburgh town, Vermont.

    • The regulations became effective June 23, 2026.
    “This ordinance shall be known and cited as the Town of Ferrisburgh Land Use Regulations.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • The official regulations list RA-5, RR-2, MU-2, FTC-1, NFVIL-2, LC-2, and CON-25 district sections.
    “Section 4.1 Rural Agricultural District (RA-5) Section 4.2 Rural Residential District (RR-2) Section 4.3 Mixed Use District (MU-2) Section 4.4 Ferrisburgh Town Center District (FTC-1) Section 4.5 North Ferrisburgh Village District (NFVIL-2) Section 4.6 Lake Champlain District (LC-2) Section 4.7 Conservation District (CON-25)”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured homes inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • Mobile homes are permitted in approved mobile-home parks subject to the section and state law.
    • New mobile-home parks are allowed in the Rural Agricultural District only as a conditional use and under PUD provisions.
    “Mobile homes are permitted in approved mobile home parks subject to the requirements of this section and state law. New mobile home parks shall be allowed in the Rural Agricultural District as a conditional use and shall be reviewed under the PUD provisions of these regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • Subdivision applications are reviewed by the Planning Commission and may require engineering and septic testing.
    “Subdivision (if applicable) Reviewed by the Planning Commission and may require engineering and septic testing”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New or modified driveways connecting to a Ferrisburgh town road.

    • The cited requirement applies to driveways connecting to a town road.
    “Required for new or modified driveways connecting to a town road”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building and land-development proposals inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • The town directs applicants to contact the Zoning Administrator, review the zoning district, prepare a site plan, submit the application, obtain other permits, build after approvals, and obtain occupancy approval.
    “1. Contact Zoning Administrator (Katherine Hill) 2. Review zoning district and regulations 3. Prepare site plan (surveyor/engineer if needed) 4. Submit Zoning Permit Application 5. Apply for driveway and state permits 6. Build after approvals 7. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Ferrisburgh

Town of Ferrisburgh does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the Rural Agricultural District (RA-5).

    minimum lot size: 5 acres

    “Section 4.1 Rural Agricultural District (RA-5) [...] D. Dimensional Standards 1. Minimum lot size 5 acres”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the Rural Residential District (RR-2).
      “Section 4.2 Rural Residential District (RR-2) [...] D. Dimensional Standards 1. Minimum lot size 2 acres”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the Rural Agricultural District (RA-5).

    • Front-yard measurement is from the road centerline.
    • Route 7 has a 100-foot minimum setback from its centerline.

    front yard minimum: 80 feet (measured from centerline of road) · rear and side-yard setbacks: 25 feet

    “4. Front yard minimum (measured from centerline of road) 80 feet 5. Minimum setback on Route 7 from centerline of road 100 feet 6. Rear and side-yard setbacks 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the Rural Residential District (RR-2).
      “4. Front yard minimum setback (measured from centerline of road) 80 feet 5. Minimum setback from centerline of route 7 100 feet 6. Rear and sideyard setbacks 25 feet”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in Ferrisburgh's Rural Agricultural District (RA-5).

    • Subject to the town's applicable land-use regulations and permitting.
    “Section 4.1 Rural Agricultural District (RA-5) [...] B. Permitted Uses [...] 5. Accessory dwelling unit”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Accessory dwelling units in Ferrisburgh's Rural Residential District (RR-2).
      “Section 4.2 Rural Residential District (RR-2) [...] B. Permitted Uses [...] 3. Accessory dwelling unit”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Septic systems inside Ferrisburgh town are subject to the State of Vermont wastewater and potable-water permit identified by the town.

    • This is in addition to local zoning requirements.
    “Wastewater & Potable Water Supply Permit (State of Vermont) Required for septic systems and wells”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Septic systems inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • The permit identified by the town is a State of Vermont Wastewater & Potable Water Supply Permit.
    “Wastewater & Potable Water Supply Permit (State of Vermont) Required for septic systems and wells”
  • Well permitRequired

    Wells inside Ferrisburgh town.

    • The town identifies the required permit as the State of Vermont Wastewater & Potable Water Supply Permit.
    “Wastewater & Potable Water Supply Permit (State of Vermont) Required for septic systems and wells”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development located within a mapped or otherwise applicable River Corridor in Ferrisburgh town.

    • Exemptions are listed in Section IV(C)(1).
    • Where River Corridors and Flood Hazard Areas overlap, Flood Hazard Area provisions also apply.
    “A permit is required from the Zoning Administrator for all development that is located within the River Corridor except as provided in Section IV C.1. Where River Corridors and Flood Hazard Areas overlap, the Flood Hazard Area provisions shall also apply.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals in Ferrisburgh's Rural Agricultural District (RA-5).

    • Short-term rentals are conditional uses with site-plan review.
    “C. Conditional Uses – with Site Plan Review 1. Short Term Rental”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Short-term rentals in Ferrisburgh's Rural Residential District (RR-2).
      “C. Conditional Uses – with Site Plan Review 1. Motel, Short Term Rental”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Ferrisburgh or Addison County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Ferrisburgh town.
  • Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Ferrisburgh town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Ferrisburgh town.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Ferrisburgh town.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Ferrisburgh town.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Ferrisburgh publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Addison County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Ferrisburgh means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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