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

Town of Hinesburg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development and changes of use inside Hinesburg town, including construction, placement, or relocation of a dwelling of any size.

  • The Town regulation exempts actions described in Section 4.1.2.
  • For structures other than dwellings, the cited rule uses a threshold of more than 100 square feet.

  other structure threshold: > 100 square feet (A dwelling of any size requires a zoning permit.)

  “No person shall undertake any land development as defined in Section 10.1 of this Regulation or a change in use, except as exempted in Section 4.1.2 below, without a valid zoning permit issued by the Zoning Administrator that specifically authorizes the action.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hinesburg town, Vermont.

  • Current Town zoning regulations were amended September 17, 2025 and effective September 19, 2025.

  “For the Purpose of this Regulation, the Town of Hinesburg is hereby divided into the 15 zoning districts shown on the official zoning map as follows.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Hinesburg town.

  • The official zoning maps are adopted by reference and form part of the regulation.
  • The Town page identifies the current Town-wide and Village Growth Area zoning district maps as amended September 19, 2025.

  number of zoning districts: 15

  “For the Purpose of this Regulation, the Town of Hinesburg is hereby divided into the 15 zoning districts shown on the official zoning map as follows.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures inside Hinesburg town.

  • Farm accessory structures are excluded from the stated general limit.
  • Sections 2.7.2 and 2.7.3 provide exceptions.

  maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (Other than farm accessory structures; subject to Sections 2.7.2 and 2.7.3.)

  “Except as set forth in Section 2.7.2 and 2.7.3, the height of any structure, other than farm accessory structures, shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Noncommercial camping in recreational vehicles inside Hinesburg town.

  • Camping of more than 90 and up to 180 days per year requires a zoning permit.
  • Camping for more than 180 days per year is prohibited unless it is a temporary structure/use incident to a construction project or loss of dwelling under Section 5.18.
  • Sanitation requirements apply for every duration.

  camping without zoning permit: <= 90 days per year · maximum camping duration: <= 180 days per year (Temporary construction-project or loss-of-dwelling use under Section 5.18.)

  “Camping for 90 days or less per year does not require a zoning permit. Camping for more than 90 days and up to 180 days per year requires a zoning permit. Camping for more than 180 days per year is prohibited unless permitted as temporary structure/use incidental to a construction project or the loss of a dwelling pursuant to Section 5.18.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Noncommercial tent, recreation-vehicle, and travel-trailer camping inside Hinesburg town.

  • Camping duration, permit, prohibition, and sanitation conditions in Section 5.20 apply.

  camping without zoning permit: <= 90 days per year

  “Non-commercial camping (e.g., tents, recreation vehicles, travel trailers, etc.) is allowed for limited durations as outlined below. 5.20.1 Unoccupied camping vehicles may be parked or stored on property like any other vehicle; see below for occupied camping vehicles provisions.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes inside Hinesburg town.

  • A manufactured home is treated as a one-unit dwelling and must satisfy the same zoning requirements, except in a sales establishment or as a temporary structure under Section 5.18.4.
  • Mobile-home park rules and State law also apply.

  “Pursuant to the Planning Act, a manufactured home shall be considered a one-unit dwelling and shall meet the same zoning requirements applicable to one-unit dwellings, except when occupied and displayed in a manufactured home sales establishment or allowed as a temporary structure under Section 5.18.4 of this Regulation.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Noncommercial camping inside Hinesburg town.

  • Wastewater must be disposed through an on-site toilet and associated septic/sewer system or an RV holding tank; the holding tank must be dumped at a State-approved facility.

  “The property owner is responsible for ensuring the sanitary disposal of wastewater either via an on-site toilet facility and associated septic/sewer system, or via a recreational vehicle manufactured and equipped with a wastewater holding tank.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New subdivisions and amendments to existing subdivisions inside Hinesburg town.

  • More involved development requires Development Review Board review and approval under the Town zoning and subdivision regulations.

  “More involved development requires review and approval by the Development Review Board. This can included proposals for new subdivisions, amendments to existing subdivisions, conditional use review, site plan review and certain types of signs in accordance with the Zoning Regulations and Subdivision Regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Hinesburg Special Flood Hazard Areas or Fluvial Erosion Hazard Areas.

  • The zones overlay other zoning districts and their minimum standards must be met before underlying-district standards.
  • Some uses are prohibited, exempt, permitted, or conditional under Article 6.

  “Development within the Special Flood Hazard Area and/or the Fluvial Erosion Hazard Area, pursuant to Article 6.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town Planning and Zoning Department applications inside Hinesburg town.

  • Final fees, including Police and Fire Impact Fees, are calculated after a complete application and plans are submitted.
  • The page says fees are often paid by check only to the Town Clerk & Treasurer.

  “Final permit fees (such as Police and Fire Impact Fees) are calculated by the Zoning Administrator once an application and plans have been submitted and deemed complete.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town planning and zoning applications inside Hinesburg town.

  • The forms page directs applicants to zoning-permit application instructions and Development Review Board application/review materials.

  “See the Application Instructions document below for details. Application forms for the most common types of zoning permits are available below.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hinesburg

Town of Hinesburg 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

  Residential 1 (R-1) zoning district inside Hinesburg town.

  • Table 1 dimensional standards and other regulation sections apply.
  • Density bonuses and other district-specific provisions may alter development potential.

  minimum lot size: 6000 square feet (R-1 district Table 1 standard.)

  “In each district the maximum residential density and dimensional standards (e.g., lot size, lot coverage, setbacks) shall be as shown on Table 1, and as further specified in other sections of the regulation.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential 1 (R-1) zoning district inside Hinesburg town.

  • The listed coverage standard applies to structures and non-structure improvements, including driveways, parking areas, and roads.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 60 percent (R-1 Table 1 standard.)

  “Lot coverage requirements in Table #1 apply to both structures and non-structure improvements (e.g., driveways, parking areas, roads) as defined in section 10.1.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Potable-water supplies and wastewater systems, including those inside Hinesburg town.

  • The statute states exceptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978.

  “Except as provided in this section and sections 1974 and 1978 of this title, a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hinesburg town.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Hinesburg town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Hinesburg town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Hinesburg town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings inside Hinesburg town.

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.