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Is Airbnb legal in Burlington, Vermont?

Investors are shut out; primary residence required. Burlington's rules are written to block investor STRs: hosts generally cannot register more than one whole-unit rental beyond their primary residence. Whole-unit registration costs $240 a year under the 2026 fee schedule, plus a 9% city housing trust tax on revenue. A non-owner-occupant investor has no path.

Showing the researched rules for Burlington, VT below. Type your Burlington address to jump to the verdict.

Not allowed

Investors are shut out; primary residence required

Burlington's rules are written to block investor STRs: hosts generally cannot register more than one whole-unit rental beyond their primary residence. Whole-unit registration costs $240 a year under the 2026 fee schedule, plus a 9% city housing trust tax on revenue. A non-owner-occupant investor has no path.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Registration
Issued by
City of Burlington, Permitting and Inspections
Cost
$240 / year (whole-unit)
Renewal
Annual (due April 1)

Key limits

Unit limit
no more than one whole-unit rental beyond primary residence
Primary residence proof
homestead, voter registration, or utility bills required
Management
host must be the primary host; no property-manager operators
Local contact
Chittenden County contact if owner lives outside the county

Taxes

City housing trust tax
9% of STR revenue

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Do not underwrite an investor STR
    A non-resident investor cannot meet the primary-residence test; treat Burlington as closed.
  2. 2
    Prove primary residence
    Confirm primary residence with the documents the city requires.
  3. 3
    Register annually
    Register with Permitting and Inspections and pay the whole-unit fee.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
HOA and condo rules can ban STRs even with a city registration.
2026 fee increase
The 2026 fee schedule raised whole-unit registration from $220 to $240 a year.

Sources

City of Burlington 2026 fee ordinance · Checkmate Vermont STR laws

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.