Title 24, Municipal and County Government

§ 4020. Taxation The property of an authority is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and such property and an authority shall be exempt from all taxes and special assessments of the State or any State public body thereof; provided ho…

§ 4021. Governmental services and contracts In connection with any housing project located within the area in which it is authorized to act, any State public body may contract with the housing authority with respect to the sum or sums, if any, which the housing authority may agre…

§ 4022. Powers For the purpose of aiding and cooperating in the planning, undertaking, construction, or operation of housing projects, located within the area in which it is authorized to act, any State public body may upon such terms, with or without consideration, as it may det…

§ 4023. Appropriation When any housing authority which is created for any municipality becomes authorized to transact business and exercise its powers therein, the governing body of such municipality shall immediately make an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the admi…

§ 4024. Exercise of authority The exercise by a State public body of the powers granted in this chapter may be authorized by resolution of the governing body of such State public body adopted by a majority of the members thereof present at a meeting of said governing body. Such r…

§ 4025. Report At least once a year, an authority shall file with the clerk a report of its activities for the preceding year and shall make recommendations with reference to such additional legislation or other actions as it deems necessary in order to carry out the purpose of t…

§ 4026. Inconsistent acts As far as the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with any other law, including special act or municipal charter, this chapter shall control. (Added 1966, No. 69 (Sp. Sess.), § 11, eff. March 14, 1966.)

§ 4027. Joint municipal housing authorities The governing bodies of two or more municipalities may, pursuant to and in the manner set forth in section 4003 of this title, adopt a resolution to establish a housing authority for such municipalities. When the governing bodies of two…

§ 4301. Short title This chapter may be referred to as the Vermont Planning and Development Act. (Added 1967, No. 334 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 23, 1968.)

§ 4302. Purpose; goals (a) General purposes. It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to encourage the appropriate development of all lands in this State by the action of its constituent municipalities and regions, with the aid and assistance of the State, in a manner which w…

§ 4303. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Affordable housing” means either of the following: (A) Owner-occupied housing for which the total annual cost of ownership, including principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and condominium association fees, does not exceed 30 perc…

§ 4303a. Computation of time Where an event is required or permitted to occur by this chapter before, on, or after a specified period of time measured from another event, in calculating the period: (1) the first day shall not be counted; and (2) the final day shall be counted. (A…

§ 4304. Planning and land use manual (a) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development shall prepare, maintain, and distribute from time to time to all municipalities a manual setting forth: (1) a copy of this chapter, together with all amendments thereof; (2) examples of…

§ 4306. Municipal and Regional Planning and Resilience Fund (a)(1) The Municipal and Regional Planning and Resilience Fund for the purpose of assisting municipal and regional planning commissions to carry out the intent of this chapter is hereby created in the State Treasury. (2)…

§ 4307. Municipal Bylaw Modernization Grants (a) There are created Municipal Bylaw Modernization Grants to assist municipalities in updating their land use and development bylaws. Bylaws updated under this section shall increase housing choice, affordability, and opportunity in a…

§ 4321. Creation of planning commissions (a) A planning commission may be created at any time by the act of the legislative body of a municipality. (b) In any urban municipality, the legislative body may create a planning department headed by a planning director as a substitute f…

§ 4322. Planning commission; membership (a) A planning commission shall have not less than three nor more than nine voting members. All members may be compensated and reimbursed by the municipality for necessary and reasonable expenses. At least a majority of the members of a pla…

§ 4323. Appointment, term, and vacancy; rules (a) Members of a planning commission shall be appointed and any vacancy filled by the legislative body of a municipality. The length of the term of planning commission members shall be determined by the legislative body of a municipal…

§ 4324. Existing commissions The members of any existing planning commission or body having similar powers and functions established under former laws shall continue in office until the end of their term as so established. New members shall be appointed and vacancies filled only …

§ 4325. Powers and duties of planning commissions Any planning commission created under this chapter may: (1) Prepare a plan and amendments thereof for consideration by the legislative body and to review any amendments thereof initiated by others as set forth in subchapter 5 of t…

§ 4326. Appropriations, reports, and records Every municipality may appropriate to and expend funds for its planning commission. The planning commission shall keep a record of its business and shall make an annual report to the municipality. A planning commission may accept and u…

§ 4327. Joint planning commissions (a) Any planning commission of a municipality which is a town having one or more municipalities contained within its area or which is one of such contained municipalities shall, upon the act of the legislative body of each municipality, be the p…

§ 4328. Terms of office inconsistent with charter provisions When a charter of a municipality exists having terms respecting the appointment and authority of municipal officials, relating to their activities under this chapter, which terms are inconsistent with this chapter, thos…

§ 4341. Creation of regional planning commissions (a) A regional planning commission may be created at any time by the act of the voters or the legislative body of each of a number of contiguous municipalities, upon the written approval of the Agency of Commerce and Community Dev…

§ 4341a. Performance grants for regional planning service (a) The Secretary of Commerce and Community Development shall negotiate and issue performance grants to regional planning commissions, or to regional planning commissions and regional development corporations in the case o…

§ 4342. Regional planning commissions; membership A regional planning commission shall contain at least one representative appointed from each member municipality. All representatives may be compensated and reimbursed by their respective municipalities for necessary and reasonabl…

§ 4343. Appointment, term, and vacancy; rules (a) Representatives to a regional planning commission representing each participating municipality shall be appointed for a term and any vacancy filled by the legislative body of such municipality in the manner provided and for the te…

§ 4345. Optional powers and duties of regional planning commissions Any regional planning commission created under this chapter may: (1) Develop an inventory of the region’s fire and safety facilities; hospitals, rest homes, or other facilities for aging or disabled persons; corr…

§ 4345a. Duties of regional planning commissions A regional planning commission created under this chapter shall: (1) Promote the mutual cooperation of its municipalities and assist and advise municipalities, compacts, and authorities within the region to facilitate economic deve…

§ 4345b. Intermunicipal service agreements (a)(1) Prior to exercising the authority granted under this section, a regional planning commission shall: (A) draft bylaws specifying the process for entering into, method of withdrawal from, and method of terminating service agreements…

§ 4346. Appropriations Regional planning commissions may apply for, receive, and expend monies from any source, public or private, including grants, loans, and funds made available by the participating municipalities, and by an agency or department of the State of Vermont, out of…

§ 4347. Purposes of regional plan A regional plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, efficient, equitable, and economic development of the region that will, in accordance with the present and future needs and resources, best promote…

§ 4348. Adoption and amendment of regional plan (a) A regional planning commission shall adopt a regional plan. Any plan for a region, and any amendment, shall be prepared by the regional planning commission. At the outset of the planning process and throughout the process, regio…

§ 4348a. Elements of a regional plan (a) A regional plan shall be consistent with the goals established in section 4302 of this title and shall include the following: (1) A statement of basic policies of the region to guide the future growth and development of land and of public …

§ 4348b. Readoption of regional plans (a) Unless they are readopted, all regional plans, including all prior amendments, shall expire every eight years. (b)(1) A regional plan that has expired or is about to expire may be readopted as provided under section 4348 of this title for…

§ 4349. Regional plan; adoption by municipality (a) If a regional planning commission prepares and adopts a regional plan, the regional plan or a portion thereof may then be adopted by the legislative body of any member municipality as its plan in accordance with subchapter 5 of …

§ 4350. Review and consultation regarding municipal planning effort (a) A regional planning commission shall consult with its municipalities with respect to the municipalities’ planning efforts, ascertaining the municipalities’ needs as individual municipalities and as neighbors …

§ 4351. Review by Commissioner of Housing and Community Development (a) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development shall establish guidelines for the provision of affordable housing by municipalities with plans that have not been approved under this chapter. These guid…

§ 4352. Optional determination of energy compliance; enhanced energy planning (a) Regional plan. A regional planning commission may submit its adopted regional plan to the Commissioner of Public Service appointed under 30 V.S.A. § 1 for a determination of energy compliance. The C…

§ 4362. Appropriations (a) For the purposes outlined in subdivisions 4345(6) and (12) of this title, regional planning commissions may receive and expend monies from any source, including the participating municipalities and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, out o…

§ 4381. Authorization Any municipality may undertake a comprehensive planning program, including related preliminary planning and engineering studies, and prepare, maintain, and implement a plan within its jurisdiction in accordance with this chapter. (Added 1967, No. 334 (Adj. S…

§ 4382. The plan for a municipality (a) A plan for a municipality shall be consistent with the goals established in section 4302 of this title and compatible with approved plans of other municipalities in the region and with the regional plan and shall include the following: (1) …

§ 4384. Preparation of plan; hearings by planning commission (a) A municipality may have a plan. Any plan for a municipality shall be prepared by the planning commission of that municipality. At the outset of the planning process and throughout the process, planning commissions s…

§ 4385. Adoption and amendment of plans; hearing by legislative body (a) Not less than 30 nor more than 120 days after a proposed plan or amendment is submitted to the legislative body of a municipality under section 4384 of this title, the legislative body of a municipality with…

§ 4387. Readoption of plans (a) All plans, including all prior amendments, shall expire every eight years unless they are readopted according to the procedures in section 4385 of this title. (b)(1) A municipality may readopt any plan that has expired or is about to expire. Prior …

§ 4401. Purpose and authority Any municipality that has adopted and has in effect a plan and has created a planning commission under this chapter may implement the plan by adopting, amending, and enforcing any or all of the regulatory and nonregulatory tools provided for in this …