Off-Grid Living in Monkton, Vermont

Monkton, Vermont is a real place to research carefully if you're thinking about going off-grid, because it's not one of those "no zoning, do what you want" Vermont towns. Monkton has had zoning bylaws since 1978, updated as recently as March 2023 by town vote, plus a Town Plan adopted in March 2025. That means anything you build or change here goes through the Monkton Zoning Administrator, on top of Vermont's statewide rules on water and wastewater.

Let's start with land and structures. Monkton's zoning bylaw sets district rules and lot standards, and the town says plainly that before new construction or altering the outside of an existing building, you need to talk to the Zoning Administrator first. I did not find specifics in my research on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes on wheels, or RV occupancy rules, so that's a real gap. If you're planning a tiny house or want to live in an RV while you build, don't assume it's fine, call the Zoning Administrator's office and ask directly, because town bylaws often have their own definitions that state law doesn't cover.

Building permits in Monkton run through the town, not a county office (Vermont doesn't really do county government the way other states do). The Zoning Administrator handles that consultation and sign-off.

Now for water and waste, and this is where the state steps in hard. Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources, through DEC's Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules, has had universal jurisdiction over new wastewater and water systems since July 1, 2007. That means composting toilets and incinerating toilets need a state permit, not just a nod from the town. The same set of state rules governs greywater disposal, since Vermont doesn't have a separate greywater ordinance that I found for Monkton, and it also governs any new well or potable water system tied to new construction. If you already have an existing well, Vermont does let you do some repairs and pump replacements without a fresh permit, but a brand-new well for a new dwelling triggers the same DEC process.

Rainwater harvesting doesn't appear to be restricted by any Monkton ordinance, but if you intend to use it as your household's actual potable water supply rather than just for the garden, it still needs to satisfy DEC's drinking water standards.

Bottom line on utilities: nothing in Monkton forces you onto municipal water or sewer (there mostly isn't one to connect to anyway), but living disconnected doesn't mean living unregulated. You'll still need a state Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permit for a new home, and you'll still need to loop in the town Zoning Administrator. Vermont takes this seriously, so confirm everything before you break ground.