Off-Grid Living in Cambridge, Vermont

I dug into Cambridge, Vermont for this one because "unzoned" towns always raise the same question from off-grid folks: does no zoning mean no rules? The honest answer here is: mostly, but not entirely, and the state fills in a lot of the gaps.

Zoning first. The Town of Cambridge (outside the Village of Jeffersonville, which runs its own Planning Commission and may have separate rules) has no zoning bylaw at all, according to the Town's own planning and development page. That's unusual and it's a real perk if you're trying to just occupy raw land without fighting a use-district fight. But Cambridge does have subdivision regulations in effect since 2006, and a Development Review Board that handles permits for subdividing land, creating a right-of-way, or adjusting boundary lines. So buying and living on an already-existing lot is one thing; carving up land is another, and that goes through the DRB.

Dwellings and RVs. I could not confirm any town-level rule on tiny homes, RV occupancy, or minimum dwelling size. With no zoning bylaw, there's nothing on record from the town addressing this, but that's a "not confirmed" rather than a green light, so I'd call the Subdivision Administrative Officer's office to be sure nothing informal is being enforced.

Building permits. Same story, not confirmed at the town level, and Vermont doesn't have a statewide building code requirement for single-family homes as a baseline. So a lot rides on what Cambridge itself is or isn't enforcing informally.

Septic, greywater, and water supply are where the state takes over. Since 2007, Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation has held universal jurisdiction over wastewater systems and potable water supplies statewide, including composting toilets and greywater, and that applies fully in Cambridge regardless of the town's unzoned status. Any new building needing a wastewater system, any subdivision, or any repair to a failed system needs a state Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply permit. This isn't a town rule, it's a state one, and it's non-negotiable.

Wells. Well construction and testing standards are also state (DEC) baseline. Interestingly, Cambridge's Town Plan recommends the town adopt local Well Head Protection Area regulations near Jeffersonville Village's spring sources, but I found no confirmation this has actually been adopted as an enforceable ordinance, just a planning recommendation. Worth asking the Town Administrator where that stands.

Rainwater and utility disconnection. No town-specific restriction turned up on rainwater harvesting or living off-grid from utilities, so this follows the state baseline, which is generally permissive.

Bottom line: Cambridge's lack of zoning gives you real breathing room on land use and dwelling type, but don't mistake that for a free pass on wastewater and water systems, those are locked in at the state level no matter what the town does.