Vermont Act 181 of 2024 — Tier-Based Act 250 Jurisdiction Framework (VT)

Tracked preemption from the Vermont overlay bundle.

Overview

Effective
2024-06-17
Sunset
Authority
state
Scope
state:VT

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

AND
  • project.use_type {multifamily, duplex, townhome, single_family, mixed_use_residential}
  • parcel.act_250_tier {1a, 1b}

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
act_250_jurisdictionoverrideexempt_housingTier 1A: full Act 250 housing exemption
act_250_jurisdictionoverrideexempt_if_le_50_unitsTier 1B: housing projects ≤ 50 units exempt from Act 250

Citation

Authority source
Act 181 of 2024 (H.687); 10 V.S.A. Chapter 151 amendments
§ Act 181 §§ amending 10 V.S.A. Chapter 151
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/ACTS/ACT181/ACT181%20As%20Enacted.pdf

Research notes

Act 181 establishes a tier-based Act 250 jurisdiction map (1A exempt for housing, 1B ≤50-unit housing exempt, 2 standard, 3 enhanced and currently suspended pending S.325). Tier maps are submitted by the 11 Regional Planning Commissions to the Land Use Review Board for approval; as of Q1 2026, 5 of 11 RPCs had submitted draft Tier 1A/1B maps. Effective dates per region begin January 2026 with rolling approvals continuing into 2027. Not a zoning preemption — modifies the parallel Act 250 state environmental permit track. Underwriting must carry act_250_jurisdiction_likely flag separately from zoning.