Barre building department

Barre City is one of the few Vermont municipalities that runs its own building and electrical permit programs alongside zoning. The city’s rule is simple: “All development in the City of Barre is required to have a permit.” A single project may need any mix of a zoning, building, electrical, and flood hazard permit. Permits must be issued before work begins. Applications go to Planning, Permitting and Assessing Services in City Hall. Plan review and inspections are done by the Fire Department’s Code Enforcement Office.

Building permits

The January 2026 building permit application requires a permit for construction, enlargement, alteration, relocation, demolition, change of use, or change in occupancy of any structure in the city.

Exempt: general maintenance and repair, and replacing individual components such as roofs, doors, and windows, as long as the rough opening is not altered. The city still asks owners to call before starting work. See the roof replacement guide for comparison with other jurisdictions.

A building application is incomplete without a full description of the work, the property use, a sketch or site plan, and any additional plans and construction cost estimates. It is not complete until the Fire Department’s Code Enforcement Plan Reviewer approves it. The application lists the Vermont Department of Public Safety at (802) 479-4434 for any state permits.

Contractor licensing: any residential contractor doing residential construction valued at $10,000 or more (labor and materials) must hold a State of Vermont license. Contractors list the license number, effective date, and expiration date on the application. Owners doing their own work check “Owner.”

Building permit fee (2026 form)	Residential	Commercial*
New primary structure	$0.20/sq ft of footprint, min. $150	$0.25/sq ft, min. $150
All other construction (additions, garages, sheds, porches, decks)	$0.20/sq ft, min. $30	$0.25/sq ft, min. $75
Demolition only	$10	$10

*Barre treats a rented single-family home, any building with two or more units, and any commercial building as commercial. Each permit adds a $15 land-records recording fee. Starting work without a permit adds a $150 after-the-fact fee. All fees are non-refundable.

Zoning permits

The zoning application covers new homes and garages, additions and alterations, and accessory structures over 120 sq ft. It also covers pools over 20 feet wide or 5 feet deep, decks, porches, steps and ramps, fences and walls, and interior renovations that add a bedroom. New and accessory apartments, change of use, signs, home occupations, site work, parking lots, and subdivisions are on the same form. Demolition in a historic district requires Development Review Board (DRB) approval.

Zoning fees are based on project cost. For 1–4 unit residential projects:

• $20 up to $5,000
• $40 for $5,001–$10,000
• $75 for $10,001–$25,000
• $100 for $25,001–$150,000
• $150 above $150,000

Commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and 5+ unit projects pay $50 to $400. Specific-use add-ons include:

• $40 each for fences or walls, change of use, site work, and permanent signs
• $30 for a certificate of compliance
• $175 for a DRB hearing

Fill out the form’s fee summary to get the total, then add the $15 recording fee.

Electrical permits

Barre issues its own electrical permits under City Ordinance Chapter 5, Section 5-5. The base fee is $50, which includes the energizing permit. Fixtures are added on top, for example:

• Main panel replacement: $50
• Permanent service through 400 amps: $35
• Lights, outlets, and switches: $20 per 50
• Solar panels: $10 each for 1–25 kW

Solar installations require both an electrical permit and a building permit. Fire alarm installations need plan review and a building permit before installation. Re-inspections cost at least $125 for the first and $200 for the second. The applicant must call for rough-in and final inspections, and failing to schedule an inspection may void the permit.

Applying and paying

Forms are on the city’s Permit Forms page, along with a cover sheet, permit checklists, and the flood hazard, conditional use, site plan, variance, and appeal forms. You can pay by check to the City of Barre or online through the city’s Xpress Pay portal by choosing “Permits through the Planning & Permitting Department.” Credit cards add 3%, and e-check costs a flat $2.50. Forward the emailed receipt to [email protected] with your electronically submitted application.

Code enforcement and inspections

Code Enforcement Services is part of the Fire Department and is based in the Planning & Zoning Office at City Hall. Call (802) 477-7833, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Fire Marshal/Health Officer Nick Copping and Building/Electrical Inspector Arthur Young enforce:

• The 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code
• The Vermont Residential Rental Housing Health and Safety Code (2022)
• The 2025 Vermont Electrical Safety Rules (effective November 5, 2025)

Time-of-sale inspections are optional for residential sales. Request one in writing at least 15 days before closing. The fee is $125 for the initial inspection and one re-inspection, plus $25 for each additional unit. A second re-inspection costs $50. Return the request form to the Permits & Zoning Office. The city also publishes self-inspection checklists and a minimum ground snow load document. Code complaints must be in writing, and anonymous complaints are not investigated.

Contacts

• Director of Planning, Permitting & Assessing (also Zoning and Floodplain Administrator) Janet Shatney: (802) 476-0245
• Permit Administrator Robin Davis: (802) 476-0245, [email protected]
• Office address: 6 North Main Street, Suite 7, Barre, VT 05641