Burlington Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Burlington’s Department of Permitting and Inspections is the city’s one-stop office for building permits, zoning, code enforcement, rental registration, and minimum-housing inspections. The city says its permitting and inspection records are handled through OpenGov, where applicants create an account and use the applicable project portal.

Burlington permits and plan review

Start with the Department of Permitting and Inspections before work begins. Burlington’s Building & Trades Division states that a building permit is required for most non-mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work, with limited exceptions such as painting, carpeting, nonsolid fences, storm doors, storm windows, and certain low-cost in-kind repairs. The department’s application materials and project scope determine whether a short-form or more comprehensive construction and zoning application is appropriate.

Zoning review is a separate part of the process. The city’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance governs land use, setbacks, site design, signs, historic or design review, and other development standards. A project may need both a zoning approval and a building permit, plus state trade or fire approvals depending on its scope.

Inspections, occupancy, and code compliance

Schedule inspections through the inspector or the city’s online inspection scheduling link after the permit is issued. Keep the permit information, approved plans, address, and requested inspection stage available. The final inspection and any required zoning or trade sign-offs should be complete before requesting project closeout.

Burlington’s project-completion guidance explains that final review can support a zoning certificate of occupancy or other completion documentation. For public-building work, the 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code and any state Division of Fire Safety requirements may apply in addition to municipal approvals.

Official Burlington contact information

The Permitting and Inspections Department lists 645 Pine Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401 and (802) 863-0442. Use OpenGov for the current online permit and inspection record path, and confirm current fees, adopted codes, and inspection lead times with the department before submitting.