Saint Johnsbury, Vermont
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Saint Johnsbury, VT
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STR Regulations for Saint Johnsbury, Vermont
Overview
Short-term rentals ARE explicitly allowed in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. STRs operate under Vermont state regulations, with no specific city-level restrictions identified in the provided content. Short-term rentals offering fewer than three units and not preparing food are permitted but must comply with state health and safety requirements.
What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Saint Johnsbury?
Saint Johnsbury hosts earn a median $24,561/year with $182 ADR and 54% occupancy.
Top performers pull in $34,932+ per year.
See the full Saint Johnsbury market breakdownHow to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market
Step 1: Determine Your License Requirements
- No lodging license required from the Vermont Department of Health if offering fewer than three guest units and not preparing food
- Lodging license required if operating three or more guest rooms, OR fewer units if also preparing food
Step 2: Contact Required State Agencies
- Department of Taxes: Set up a tax account for business operations
- Department of Environmental Conservation: Obtain wastewater permit or exemption documentation
- Secretary of State's Office: Register your business name
- Department of Public Safety: For fire safety compliance and inspections
Step 3: Ensure Compliance with Short-Term Rental Regulations
- Short-term rentals are considered rental housing under Vermont law
- Must comply with Vermont Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
- Subject to Division of Fire Safety health and safety regulations
Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines
For Short-Term Rentals (Fewer than 3 units, no food preparation):
- Business registration with Secretary of State
- Tax account setup with Department of Taxes
- Wastewater permit or exemption from DEC (if applicable)
- Compliance with Division of Fire Safety regulations
- Compliance with Vermont Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
For Lodging Establishments (3+ units or food preparation):
- Lodging license application (online or paper form)
- Water test results if using private water source (total coliform and E. coli testing, results less than one year old)
- Wastewater documentation (permit or exemption)
- Opening inspection with public health inspector
- License renewal annually
Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals
State-Level Requirements (Applies to Saint Johnsbury):
- Short-term rentals are governed by 20 V.S.A., Chapter 172
- Subject to Vermont Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
- Division of Fire Safety has jurisdiction over health and safety compliance
- Properties with fewer than three units that don't prepare food are exempt from Health Department lodging licenses but must meet fire safety standards
Key Compliance Areas:
- Fire safety standards as enforced by Division of Fire Safety
- Health and safety requirements under the Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
- Wastewater compliance if using private systems
- Water quality testing requirements for private water sources
Contact Information for Local Authority
Vermont Department of Health - Food & Lodging Program
Primary Contact for Licensing Questions:
- Phone: 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free within Vermont)
- Fax: 802-863-7483
- Email: AHS.VDHENVFoodLodging@vermont.gov
- Mailing Address:
- VT Dept of Health
- Environmental Health
- Food & Lodging Program
- 280 State Drive
- Waterbury, VT 05671-8350
Department of Public Safety - Division of Fire Safety
Contact for short-term rental health and safety regulations:
- Website: firesafety.vermont.gov
- Phone: Contact through main Department of Public Safety line
- Address: Department of Public Safety, Waterbury, VT
Other Relevant State Agencies:
- Department of Taxes: tax.vermont.gov
- Department of Environmental Conservation: anr.vermont.gov
- Secretary of State: sos.vermont.gov
- Health Department Lab: 802-863-7360
Links to Source Pages
- Vermont Department of Health - Lodging Establishments: www.healthvermont.gov/environment/food-lodging-program/lodging-establishments
- Vermont Department of Public Safety - Division of Fire Safety: firesafety.vermont.gov/
- Lodging License Application (PDF): www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/env-fl-lodging-license-application_0.pdf
- Licensed Lodging Establishment Rule: www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/reg-lodging-establishment.pdf
- Guide to Opening a Lodging Establishment: www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/ENV_FL_GuidetoOperating.pdf
- Vermont Department of Taxes: tax.vermont.gov/
- Department of Environmental Conservation: anr.vermont.gov/
- Secretary of State - Business Registration: sos.vermont.gov/
Important Notes for STR Investors
- No city-specific restrictions were identified for Saint Johnsbury
- State-level regulations apply uniformly across Vermont
- Compliance verification recommended with Division of Fire Safety before operations
- Annual license renewal required for lodging establishments (3+ units)
- Inspection requirements vary based on operation type and size
This guide provides the foundational regulatory framework for operating short-term rentals in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, under current state regulations.
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Saint Johnsbury
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Overview of Saint Johnsbury
Saint Johnsbury sits in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom as the shire town of Caledonia County, with a population of roughly 7,000 residents. The town has a classic New England character, anchored by 19th-century architecture along Main Street and a pace of life that reflects the surrounding rural landscape. It serves as a commercial and cultural hub for the region and is perhaps best known as the home of the Fairbanks Scale Company, founded here in 1831 by inventor Thaddeus Fairbanks. Saint Johnsbury lies roughly 40 miles south of the Canadian border and approximately 55 miles northeast of Burlington, the nearest major city, making it a convenient base for exploring northern Vermont along the Interstate 91 corridor.
A short walk from downtown, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium occupies a striking Romanesque Revival building constructed in 1891 and houses natural-history collections, a small menagerie of live animals, and one of the oldest public planetariums in the country. It is the kind of indoor attraction that draws families, school groups, and curious travelers year-round.
A few blocks away, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is one of the few remaining private subscription libraries in the United States, dating to 1871. The second-floor gallery is celebrated for its collection of 19th-century American paintings, including Hudson River School works, and the building itself is a beautifully preserved example of Italianate civic architecture.
Outdoor recreation defines much of the area's appeal. The Kingdom Trails network, centered about 20 minutes east in East Burke, is widely regarded as one of the premier mountain-biking destinations in the eastern United States, with more than 100 miles of managed trails that also accommodate hiking, running, and Nordic skiing in winter. Burke Mountain sits adjacent to the trail system and offers alpine skiing, a mountain bike park, and a year-round resort experience roughly 25 minutes from Saint Johnsbury.
Further north, Lake Willoughby is a deep, glacier-carved lake often called the "Lucerne of America," surrounded by steep cliffs and offering a swimming beach, paddling, and a scenic byway. It is roughly 40 minutes from town and remains one of the most photographed natural settings in Vermont.
For travelers considering short-term rentals, Saint Johnsbury offers an appealing combination: a walkable historic downtown with genuine cultural institutions, a steady calendar of seasonal events, and access within an hour to some of northern Vermont's most recognized outdoor destinations. Its location along Interstate 91 makes it a natural staging point for visitors touring the Northeast Kingdom, and its quieter, more affordable character compared to Vermont's marquee resort towns can translate into steady demand from leaf-peepers, mountain bikers, and skiers.
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