Off-Grid Living in South Hero, Vermont

I've been digging into what it actually takes to live off-grid in South Hero, Vermont, a town on the Lake Champlain islands in Grand Isle County. Here's what I found, and where the gaps still are.

Zoning: South Hero is a zoned town. This isn't a place where you can just buy raw land and build whatever you want. Under the town's Development Regulations, adopted through Vermont's enabling statute (24 V.S.A. Chapter 117), no land development can happen without a zoning permit issued by the Town's Zoning Administrator. The town has several districts, including a Conservation District, a Shoreland District, a Flood Hazard Overlay, and two newer village districts around South Hero Village and Keeler Bay Village created in 2020. Where your parcel sits matters a lot, so I'd confirm district and setbacks before doing anything.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs: I couldn't find specific language in the regulations addressing tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings. That doesn't mean it's settled either way, it means you need to call the Zoning Administrator and ask directly before you commit to a structure type.

Building permits: South Hero runs its own zoning permit process (applications go to the Zoning Administrator), and a Certificate of Occupancy is required once work is done, confirming it matches the permit. I did not find evidence of a separate town building code review beyond this zoning permit process.

Septic and greywater: This is a state matter, not a town one. Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation took universal jurisdiction over wastewater and potable water permitting back in 2007, covering new buildings, subdivisions, and system repairs and replacements. I found no indication South Hero has been delegated authority to run this program itself, so you'd be working with DEC's Regional Office Program for the septic (or composting toilet system, if it needs a permit) and any greywater reuse plan.

Rainwater harvesting: I found no South Hero or state rule restricting rainwater catchment for non-potable use, so this looks fine, but I'd still mention your plans to the Zoning Administrator since catchment structures can sometimes trigger permit questions.

Wells: Private well construction and potable water supply also fall under Vermont DEC's WW Permit program, applied the same way statewide, South Hero included.

Utilities: Nothing I found says you must connect to municipal power or water to live in South Hero. Off-grid living is not itself prohibited, but you'll still need a zoning permit for the dwelling and state permits for whatever septic and water systems you install.

Bottom line: South Hero gives you real flexibility to disconnect from the grid, but every layer (town zoning, state wastewater, state water) still applies and needs its own sign-off.