Off-Grid Living in Ferrisburgh, Vermont

If you're weighing off-grid life in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, here's what I've found digging through the town's own paperwork and Vermont state resources. A quick caveat: I'm not a lawyer, and I haven't lived this myself, I'm just reporting what the official records show.

Zoning: this is a zoned town. Ferrisburgh adopted its original zoning bylaws back in 1988, and the town operates now under Land Use Regulations approved March 2, 2021 (with a further rewrite drafted for early 2026, not yet adopted as of these notes). This all runs under the state's Vermont Planning and Development Act (24 V.S.A. Chapter 117) plus the town's own Land Use Regulations and Town Plan. In plain terms: you need a zoning permit for most construction or land-use changes, and if you're splitting a parcel, the Planning Commission has to sign off. Big enough projects can also trigger the state's Act 250 review process. None of this is a rubber stamp process, so budget time to work with the Zoning Administrator's office.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs: I couldn't pin down specific size minimums or RV-as-residence rules in the bylaw excerpts I reviewed. The Zoning Board handles conditional use review, which likely applies to unconventional dwellings, but you should call the Zoning Administrator directly to get a straight answer for your specific district.

Building permits: Vermont doesn't have a statewide building code requirement for owner-occupied single-family homes, that's the state baseline. In Ferrisburgh, the zoning permit issued by the town appears to be the main local approval you'll need; I found no evidence of a separate town building inspector, but it's worth confirming that by phone.

Septic and greywater: Both fall under the state, specifically the Vermont DEC's Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Program, which permits soil-based systems handling less than 6,500 gallons a day, plus any non-public water supply. I found no Ferrisburgh-specific septic or greywater ordinance beyond deferring to the state. Addison County (where Ferrisburgh sits) is served by a DEC regional office.

Rainwater harvesting: Nothing town-specific turned up, so this looks like it falls to the general state baseline, which permits it.

Wells: Again, state-regulated through DEC. Ferrisburgh's draft Town Plan update does map well and septic suitability data using state (ANR) and regional planning sources, but actual well permitting is a DEC function, not a town one.

Off-grid utility living: I found nothing requiring you to hook up to municipal power, water, or sewer in Ferrisburgh. The town's zoning permits, conditional use reviews, and subdivision approvals govern land use and construction, but staying disconnected from utilities doesn't appear restricted, so long as you're compliant with state DEC rules for any well or wastewater system you install.

Bottom line: Ferrisburgh is workable for off-grid living, but it's a zoned town with real permit requirements, layered under Vermont state rules for water and waste. Call ahead before you buy land or start building.