Off-Grid Living in Westford, Vermont

Westford, Vermont is a zoned town, which surprises some folks looking to go off-grid in a rural corner of Chittenden County. The Town of Westford adopted comprehensive Land Use & Development Regulations (originally 2011, readopted in 2021, with a 2024 interim bylaw amendment), and these are administered locally by the Administrative Officer/Planning Coordinator. That's different from unzoned Vermont towns, so don't assume "rural" means "no permits."

Zoning and building. Any construction, reconstruction, structural alteration, relocation, or enlargement of a building or structure in Westford requires a zoning permit from the Administrative Officer, per the town's Land Use & Development Regulations (adopted under the state's Planning and Development Act framework). Vermont doesn't have a statewide residential building code, so at this level it's really the town's zoning permit process that governs what you build. I couldn't find a Westford-specific rule spelling out minimum sizes for tiny homes or standards for RVs as dwellings, so if that's your plan, call the Administrative Officer and ask directly before you buy land or a trailer.

Septic, greywater, wells. These fall to the State of Vermont, specifically the Department of Environmental Conservation's Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules, administered through DEC Regional Offices. That covers conventional septic, composting or incinerating toilets used as an alternative, greywater systems, and private well construction. I didn't find a separate Westford ordinance duplicating any of this; the town's own zoning regulations point back to state wetland rules for buffer areas, with a reference copy kept on file at the Administrative Officer's office.

Rainwater and utility independence. Nothing in Westford's zoning documents restricts collecting rainwater, and I found no requirement that a property hook up to grid electric or municipal water/sewer, if either even exists nearby. That said, whatever wastewater or drinking-water system you build still has to satisfy the state DEC rules above. Living off-grid in Westford looks feasible from a "can I disconnect from utilities" standpoint, but every structure and water system you put on the land needs its own sign-off.

Bottom line for planning. Treat this as two separate permitting tracks: the Town of Westford for zoning/building permits, and the State DEC Regional Office for septic, greywater, and well permits. Farm structures get some flexibility on setbacks if they meet the state's "farming" definition, but that's the Administrative Officer's call, not automatic. None of this is legal advice, just my read of the public records, so confirm specifics before committing money to land or a build.