Off-Grid Living in Hardwick, Vermont

I've been digging into what off-grid living actually looks like in Hardwick, Vermont, and the short version is: this is a fully zoned town, so "off-grid" here means "off-grid within the rules," not "off in the woods unbothered." Here's what I found.

Hardwick adopted zoning back in 1973 and consolidated it into a Unified Development Bylaw, most recently adopted September 2024 (with another round of amendments under public hearing as of late 2025). That bylaw governs land development and subdivision town-wide, and it explicitly operates alongside Vermont's Act 250, the state's land use law. Practically, this means a zoning permit from the Town of Hardwick is required for most land development, and the Zoning Administrator's office is your first stop before doing anything.

On dwellings, tiny homes, and RVs: the bylaw has use tables that vary by zoning district, but I could not confirm specific rules on tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings in the excerpts I reviewed. This is a "call the Zoning Administrator" situation, not a guess-and-go one.

Building-wise, new structures in Hardwick, like everywhere in Vermont, must comply with the state's Fire and Building Safety Code, a standard set by the state under 24 V.S.A. authority, layered on top of the town's own zoning permit requirement.

Septic and greywater are handled at the state level, not by the town. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Program issues permits for septic and non-conventional greywater systems through its regional offices, and Hardwick falls under the St. Johnsbury Regional Office. The town's own permit paperwork actually flags this itself, telling applicants to check with the state Permit Specialist about what state permits might apply.

Rainwater harvesting looks fine, I found no town or state restriction on it, though I'd still confirm nothing's changed with the Zoning Administrator since this wasn't explicitly addressed anywhere.

Wells fall under Vermont's baseline well-construction rules; I didn't find a Hardwick-specific well ordinance, though the town's wetlands guidance is worth noting, since state law restricts disturbing ground within 50 feet of a mapped wetland, which could affect well or septic placement.

Living fully disconnected from municipal utilities appears permitted, there's no rule I found forcing hookup to town water, sewer, or electric. But that doesn't mean permit-free: you'll still need the zoning permit and any required state wastewater/water permits.

Bottom line: Hardwick isn't hostile to off-grid living, but it's not a free-for-all either. Everything routes through the Zoning Administrator locally and the DEC regionally.