Title 10, Conservation and Development

§ 303. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Board” means the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board established by this chapter. (2) “Fund” means the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund established by this chapter. (3) “Eligible activity” means any activity which wil…

§ 311. Establishment and organization (a) There is created and established a body politic and corporate to be known as the “Vermont Housing and Conservation Board” to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The Board is constituted a public instrumentality exercising public and…

§ 312. Creation of Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the “Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund.” The Fund shall be administered by the Board and expenditures therefrom shall only be made to impl…

§ 313. Expenditure of bond proceeds Any proceeds of State bonds issued in support of activities under this chapter shall be used exclusively for the funding of long-term, tangible capital investments and those capital expenses allowed under federal laws governing the use of State…

§ 314. Affordable housing bond; investment [Repealed effective July 1, 2039] The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board shall use the proceeds of bonds, notes, and other obligations issued by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency pursuant to subdivision 621(22) of this title and tra…

§ 321. General powers and duties (a) The Board shall have all the powers necessary and convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including those general powers provided to a business corporation by Title 11A and those general powers provi…

§ 322. Allocation system (a) In determining the allocation of funds available for the purposes of this chapter, the Board shall give priority to projects that combine the dual goals of creating affordable housing and conserving and protecting Vermont’s agricultural land, historic…

§ 323. Annual report Prior to January 31 of each year, the Board shall submit a report concerning its activities to the Governor and to the House Committees on Agriculture and Forestry, on Appropriations, on Corrections and Institutions, on Energy and Technology, on Natural Resou…

§ 324. Stewardship If an activity funded by the Board involves acquisition by the State of an interest in real property for the purpose of conserving and protecting agricultural land or forestland, important natural areas, or recreation lands, the Board, in its discretion, may ma…

§ 325. Condemnation prohibited The Board shall not have the authority or power to acquire property for the purposes of this chapter through condemnation or through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. (Added 1987, No. 88, § 1, eff. June 11, 1987.)

§ 325a. Conservation easement review appraisals The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board shall ensure on a periodic basis that review appraisals are conducted of conservation easements proposed to be acquired pursuant to this chapter. (Added 1995, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 14a, e…

§ 325b. State of Vermont executory interest in easements (a) As used in this section: (1) “Qualified organization” shall have the same meaning as in section 6301a of this title; and (2) “State agency” shall have the same meaning as in section 6301a of this title. (b) The Agency o…

§ 325c. Age-restricted housing; right of first refusal (a) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) “Age-restricted property” means a privately owned age-restricted residential property that is not licensed pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 71 or 8 V.S.A. chapter 151. (2) “Eligible …

§ 325m. Rural Economic Development Initiative (a) Definitions. As used in this subchapter: (1) “Rural area” means a county of the State designated as “rural” or “mostly rural” by the U.S. Census Bureau in its most recent decennial census. (2) “Small town” means a town in the Stat…

§ 325t. Definitions As used in this subchapter: (1) “Board” means the Vermont Land Access and Opportunity Board. (2) “Historically marginalized or disadvantaged community” means a community that has historically suffered from discrimination and has not had equal access to public …

§ 325u. Vermont Land Access and Opportunity Board (a) Creation. There is created the Vermont Land Access and Opportunity Board to promote improvements in access to woodlands, farmland, and land and home ownership for Vermonters from historically marginalized or disadvantaged comm…

§ 325v. Acceptance of grants and contributions The Board may accept from any governmental department or agency, public or private body, or any other source, grants or contributions to be used in carrying out the provisions of this subchapter. (Added 2021, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § …

§ 326. Findings, policies, and goals (a) The General Assembly finds that Vermont’s economic prosperity depends on the establishment and achievement of the following policies and goals: (1) The dual goals of creating quality jobs and conserving and protecting Vermont’s social and …

§ 327. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Sustainable jobs” is defined as jobs created from business strategies and activities that meet the needs of the enterprise and its stakeholders today while protecting and sustaining the human and natural resources that will be need…

§ 328. Creation of the Sustainable Jobs Fund Program (a) There is created the Sustainable Jobs Fund Program to create quality jobs that are compatible with Vermont’s natural and social environment. (b) The Vermont Economic Development Authority shall incorporate a nonprofit corpo…

§ 329. Annual report Prior to January 31 of each year, the corporation formed under section 328 of this title shall submit a report concerning its activities to the Governor, to the House Committees on Appropriations, on Commerce and Economic Development, on Corrections and Insti…

§ 330. The Farm-to-Plate Investment Program; creation; outcomes; tasks; methods (a) Creation. (1) The Sustainable Jobs Fund Program shall establish the Vermont Farm-to-Plate Investment Program to fulfill the goals and carry out the tasks described in this section. (2) If at least…

§ 421. Purposes This chapter is designed to preserve and to enhance Vermont’s scenic values. (1966, No. 67 (Sp. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 14, 1966.)

§ 422. Acquisition of rights and interests in land for scenery protection (a) Power to acquire. To further carry out the purposes set forth in section 421 of this title, the Agency of Transportation, the Departments of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife, Environment…

§ 423. Improvement of land To further carry out the purposes set forth in section 421 of this title, the departments listed in subsection 422(a) of this title may improve lands held for those purposes with publicly owned and controlled rest and recreation areas which may include,…

§ 424. Planning provisions The Vermont Planning Council shall carry on a continuing comprehensive planning process to inventory and classify scenic corridors, areas, and sites, and analyze the scenic values and various elements thereof in keeping with the purposes of section 421 …

§ 441. Statement of purpose (a) In order to provide access to the use and enjoyment of the outdoor areas of Vermont, to conserve and use the natural resources of this State for healthful and recreational purposes, and to provide transportation from one place to another, it is dec…

§ 442. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Agency” means the Agency of Natural Resources. (2) “Nonhighway recreational fuel taxes” means State taxes on fuel used in vehicles on recreational trails or back country terrain. (3) “Trails” means land used for hiking, walking, bi…

§ 443. Vermont trails system The Vermont trails system shall consist of those individual trails recognized by the Agency of Natural Resources with the advice of the Greenways Council. The Agency, with the advice of the Council, shall establish criteria for recognition of single u…

§ 444. Responsibilities of the Agency of Natural Resources The Agency of Natural Resources may: (1) Acquire by permission, the use of any section of land for the purpose of developing and maintaining the Vermont trails system. Permission shall be acquired from a willing land owne…

§ 445. Advisory council designated (a) The Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, Inc., an organization of trail using and trail providing groups, is designated as an advisory council to the Agency of Natural Resources and shall advise on all matters related to this chapter, inclu…

§ 446. Vermont Recreational Trails Fund The Recreational Trails Fund is established, which shall be subject to the provisions of 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5. There shall be an annual transfer from the Transportation Fund to the Recreational Trails Fund in the amount of $370…

§ 447. Coordination with the Agency of Transportation (a) The Agency of Natural Resources shall coordinate the development of trails and the Agency of Transportation shall coordinate the development of bicycle and pedestrian paths. (b) The Agency of Transportation shall endeavor …

§ 448. Landowner liability No public or private owner of land that is a part of the Vermont trails system shall be liable for any property damage or personal injury sustained by any person using these trails unless the public or private owner intentionally inflicts the damage or …

§ 449. Relation to other laws The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to limit the powers of any governmental body under any other law or municipal charter. (Added 1993, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 28.)

§ 481. Definitions As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows: (1) “Limited access facility” shall have the same meaning as defined in 19 V.S.A. § 1702. (2) “Official business directional sign” means a sign erected and maintained by the State to indicate …

§ 482. Legislative findings The General Assembly of the State of Vermont makes the following findings of fact: (1) A large and increasing number of tourists has been coming to Vermont, and as a result the tourist industry is one of the largest sources of income for Vermonters, wi…

§ 483. Purposes and policy In order to promote the public health, safety, and other aspects of the general welfare, it is in the public interest to provide information about and help guide travelers to public accommodations and services, other businesses, and points of scenic, hi…

§ 484. Travel Information Council; creation, membership, terms (a) The Travel Information Council is created to administer the provisions of this chapter. (1) The Agency of Transportation shall be responsible for the administration and maintenance of the official business directi…

§ 485. Official tourist information centers The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall establish official tourist information centers, near the principal entrance points into the State, as determined by the Agency, and at such other locations as the Agency deems appro…

§ 485a. Connecticut River valley tourism district There is created the Connecticut River valley tourism district consisting of all towns bordering on the Connecticut River. (Added 1999, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 215a, eff. May 29, 2000.)

§ 486. Official directional signs (a) The Agency of Transportation, under the direction of the Travel Information Council, shall furnish, erect, and maintain official business directional signs licensed under this chapter at locations specified in the license. The Agency of Trans…

§ 487. Other information The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall provide travel information regarding the location of available public accommodations, commercial services for the traveling public and other businesses, and points of scenic, historic, and cultural in…

§ 488. Prohibition of other outdoor advertising No person may erect or maintain outdoor advertising visible to the travelling public except as provided in this chapter. (Added 1967, No. 333 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. March 23, 1968.)

§ 489. Eligibility for official business directional signs (a) Lawful businesses and points of interest and cultural, educational, and religious facilities are eligible for official business directional signs, subject to the provisions of this chapter and to rules and regulations…

§ 490. Types and arrangement of signs (a) The Travel Information Council shall regulate the size, shape, color, lighting, manner of display, and lettering of official business directional signs. Distinctive symbols shall be established to the extent considered practicable by the …