South Burlington building department

South Burlington divides permitting between two offices. Planning & Zoning at City Hall issues zoning permits for all land development, including single-family homes. The Fire Department, through the city’s Fire Marshal and Electrical Inspection service, issues construction and electrical permits and handles plan review and fire, building-code, and electrical inspections. The city’s FAQ explains that building permits required by state statute apply to construction other than single-family homes, and the Fire Marshal oversees those. Both offices take applications through the same online portal, OnCamino.

When you need a zoning permit

The city says Planning and Zoning review is required for all land development projects. That includes changes of use, fences, utility cabinets, dumpsters, and many landscape features. The department’s FAQ gives specific rules for common homeowner projects:

Project	South Burlington rule
Shed	Every shed needs a zoning permit, regardless of size, base, or permanence. Most may not exceed 15 ft in height, must be at least 5 ft from property lines, and count toward lot coverage.
New deck	Zoning permit required regardless of size
Deck or porch repair	No permit if under $5,000 and the building footprint does not change. Screening in a deck or converting it to a season room always needs a permit.
Fence under 4 ft	No permit
Fence 4–8 ft	Zoning permit
Fence over 8 ft	Development Review Board (DRB) approval

Fences must be built within, but not on, the property boundary. Commercial development, residential subdivisions, and larger construction go to the DRB. Smaller work can be approved administratively by the Zoning Administrator. For general background, see the shed permit guide.

How to apply and how long it takes

All permits and development review applications are submitted through the city’s Permitting and Registration Portal at app.oncamino.com/southburlingtonvt. You can save progress, upload documents, pay, and track status there. The city says most zoning permits can be issued while you wait if staff are available. State law allows up to 30 days for a decision. Every permit then has a 15-day appeal period set by state law.

Zoning fee highlights (adopted July 10, 2023)

Permit	Application fee
New residential	$0.45 per sq ft (+$13 digitization)
Unfinished basement	$0.20 per sq ft
Garage bay	$50 per bay
Residential additions and alterations	$5 per $1,000 of project cost, $30 min (+$13)
New non-residential	$0.35 per sq ft (+$13)
Demolition	$63 total
Permanent sign	$55 per sign
Certificate of Occupancy	$153 total
Certificate of Compliance	$40 total
Administrative site plan	$153 total
Conditional use or variance	$178 total
Appeal of administrative officer	$233 total

Square-foot fees leave out unenclosed porches and decks, unfinished attics, and garage bays for one- and two-family homes. After-the-fact applications add 50% to the standard fee, or 100% if a notice of violation has been issued. The permanent Certificate of Occupancy fee is paid when you apply for the zoning permit.

Construction, electrical, and fire permits

Fire Department permits filed through OnCamino include:

• Construction permits and electrical permits
• Final construction valuation
• Fire alarm, fire pump, water-based (sprinkler) system, and kitchen hood permits
• Tent permits
• Change of use / fire safety inspection
• Time-of-sale inspection requests

Since November 2025 the department has enforced the 2021 IBC/IEBC, 2021 NFPA 1, and 2021 NFPA 101, along with the standards they reference. The Fire Department is at 575 Dorset Street. Its non-emergency line is (802) 846-4110.

Certificates of occupancy and compliance

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before anyone first occupies a multi-family or non-residential building. A Certificate of Compliance confirms there are no known zoning violations on a property, and realtors often recommend getting one at sale.

Rental registry

Since April 1, 2024, every rental unit must be registered with the city and inspected. Annual registration costs $150 for a long-term rental, $150 for an owner-occupied short-term rental or ADU, and $1,500 for other short-term rentals. Violations can cost up to $800 per day. Contact Rental Registry Manager Patti Wehman at (802) 556-4730 or [email protected].

Records and contacts

Past administrative and DRB decisions, site plans, and permits are archived online and searchable by address in the city’s online records archive. Check zoning districts on the city’s interactive zoning map. Planning & Zoning is at 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403, open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. except holidays. Call (802) 846-4106 or email [email protected]. The Director of Planning and Zoning is Paul Conner, AICP. The City Hall main line is (802) 846-4107.