Off-Grid Living in Bennington, Vermont

I've been digging into what off-grid life actually looks like in Bennington, Vermont, and the short version is: this is a zoned town, and both the town and the State of Vermont have their hands in the process. Don't let anyone tell you Vermont is a "just go build it" state, it isn't, at least not here.

Zoning. Bennington isn't unzoned land. The town has adopted comprehensive Land Use & Development Regulations (LUDR) under the state's Title 24, Chapter 117 enabling law, and every parcel in town falls into a zoning district shown on the town's official maps. The Zoning Administrator is the person named in the LUDR as the administrative officer, so any land-use question starts there.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. The LUDR sets up different review paths depending on structure type, single and two-family dwellings are treated differently than new or expanded non-residential structures, some of which need Development Review Board sign-off. I could not find a specific tiny-home or RV occupancy rule in what I reviewed, so I'd call this genuinely unclear, confirm directly with the Zoning Administrator before you plan around a tiny house or RV as a permanent residence.

Building permits. The town's own permitting page is blunt about it: pretty much any construction, renovation, or change of use needs a building permit, a zoning permit, or both, handled by the Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator. The town also flags that state-adopted codes (electrical, plumbing, wastewater) can layer on top.

Septic and composting toilets. This is where Vermont's state authority really shows up. Since 2007, the state has claimed universal jurisdiction over wastewater systems and potable water supply, administered by the Vermont DEC. That means a Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permit is required for new buildings needing a wastewater system or water supply, and this explicitly covers cabins, yurts, and yomes, not just conventional houses. A composting toilet doesn't get you out of this.

Greywater. No town-specific greywater rule turned up. It falls under that same state wastewater permitting umbrella. Whether Bennington layers anything extra on top isn't confirmed, ask the Zoning Administrator.

Rainwater harvesting. I found nothing town-specific here. It appears to sit on the state's general baseline: non-potable use is generally fine, but if you're piping it indoors for drinking, the state's potable water rules may apply.

Wells. Same story, no Bennington-specific well ordinance found. This is state DEC territory under the Water Supply Rule component of the wastewater/water supply program.

Living off-grid generally. I didn't find anything in the town's rules that outright bans off-grid living, but that freedom comes with strings: you still need building/zoning permits for structures, and any wastewater or water supply setup triggers state DEC review.

Bottom line: treat Bennington as a place where the town controls land use and structures, and the state controls water and waste, and confirm anything dwelling-type specific by phone before you buy land or build.