Burlington building department

Burlington’s Department of Permitting and Inspections (DPI) has three divisions. Zoning handles land-use permits under the Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO). Building & Trades handles building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire-protection permits and inspections. Housing runs rental registration, minimum housing, and vacant buildings. The city has its own inspection staff, who enforce the 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code and the Burlington Code of Ordinances (BCO). Applications, payments, and records for all three divisions go through the city’s OpenGov portal.

When a building permit is required

The Building & Trades Division requires a building permit for all work that is not mechanical, electrical, or plumbing, with only these exceptions:

• Carpeting
• Painting
• Nonsolid fences
• Storm doors and storm windows
• In-kind repairs costing $1,000 or less

All demolition needs a permit. Asbestos testing is usually required under EPA and Vermont Department of Health rules. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work each need their own trade permit. Fire alarm and fire suppression permits come from the Office of the Fire Marshal. Because the exemption list is so short, window replacement needs a building permit unless it qualifies as an in-kind repair of $1,000 or less.

When a zoning permit is required

The city notes that a zoning (land use) permit is often the first permit a project needs. Zoning says the following activities might not need a permit, and recommends getting written confirmation:

• Normal repairs and maintenance with no change in materials, dimensions, or design features
• Repairs ordered in writing by the Building Inspector
• Painting
• Tree removal on lots under 3/4 acre that have a single-family home
• Temporary signs, structures, or uses lasting 30 days or less
• Design changes to non-historic buildings outside the Design Review District

Under Vermont law, accessory solar PV is allowed by right in all zones. Short-form zoning applications are available for decks, windows, roofing, siding, fences, signs, and repairs. Major projects go to the Development Review Board (DRB). Administrative zoning decisions can be appealed within 15 days, and DRB decisions within 30 days.

Applying on OpenGov

Create an account on the Burlington permitting portal and choose the category you need: building permits, trade (MEP) permits, fire permits, or zoning. The city recommends filing the zoning and building permits at the same time, so code questions get resolved while zoning is under review and work can start as soon as zoning is approved. An application is not a permit until its fees are paid and it is signed. Starting work without an active, issued building permit brings added penalties under BCO 8-28(f).

Fees

• Building permit: $8.50 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost, minimum $30 (BCO 8-28(a)).
• Zoning (FY2027 schedule, effective July 1, 2026):
  • A basic zoning permit, fence permit, awning permit, or COA Level I costs $15 + $107. COA Level I covers changes of use and projects under $29,000.
  • COA Level II ($29,000 or more) costs $15 + $140 + $2.20 per $1,000 of cost, plus a $4.50 per $1,000 development review fee due before the permit is released.
  • Signs cost $15 + $118, plus $80 for each additional sign.
  • Conditional use or variance adds $195.
  • An appeal to the DRB costs $250.
  • A zoning compliance report costs $35, or $70 expedited.
• Applications filed because of a zoning notice of violation can cost double, triple, or triple plus up to $500.
• Credit cards add a $3 processing fee plus 2.65% on transactions over $123.

Inspections

Schedule inspections online through the city’s Calendly page at calendly.com/btv-isd. For inspections at rental properties, tenants must get 48 hours’ notice. The owner or property manager must be present, and so must the contractor for MEP inspections. Inspectors:

Inspector	Trade	Phone
Kim Ianelli	Building	(802) 865-7559
Steve Cormier	Building	(802) 865-7563
Tim Hennessey	Electrical	(802) 865-7561
Nate Fields	Electrical	(802) 881-3609
John Ryan	Mechanical/Plumbing	(802) 865-7560

Project completion and certificates of occupancy

When the work is done, call the Building Official at (802) 863-9094 to request a final inspection. Burlington issues four kinds of certificate:

• Zoning Certificate of Occupancy
• Building Certificate of Occupancy
• Unified Certificate of Occupancy, a public document that lists all permits and is filed in the city land records
• Temporary Zoning Certificate of Occupancy, which expires after a set period ($150)

For zoning permits issued after July 1, 2020, zoning staff schedule the CO inspection based on trade inspections or permit expiration. Owners of older permits should request one. The final zoning CO fee ($30 plus 10% of application fees) is built into the application fee.

Contractors, rentals, and contacts

The city advises homeowners to get copies of their subcontractors’ valid State of Vermont trade licenses and certifications (electrical, plumbing, gas, lead). It also recommends written contracts and signed lien releases before final payment. Rental registration fees for short- and long-term rentals are due by April 1 every year through OpenGov.

DPI is at 645 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Call (802) 863-0442, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. The Zoning Division can be reached at (802) 865-7188. The Director of Permitting & Inspections is William Ward.