Off-Grid Living in Brownington, Vermont

Brownington, Vermont is one of those small Northeast Kingdom towns that keeps things loose on paper, and I want to be upfront that some of what follows is my best reading of official sources rather than a rock-solid confirmed rule. Always double-check with the town before you buy land or start building.

Zoning. I looked at Brownington's official profile page hosted by the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA), the regional planning commission. It lists a Town Plan (adopted January 2024) but the "Zoning Bylaw" field is blank, no bylaw is named or linked. That's consistent with Brownington being one of the Vermont towns that has a Town Plan but no adopted zoning bylaw, meaning ordinary land use wouldn't need a local zoning permit. I could not find a page that says this in so many words, so treat it as likely, not certain, and confirm with the Brownington Town Clerk or Planning Commission.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. No official Brownington document addresses dwelling size or RV occupancy. If the town really is unzoned, there's probably no local rule on this either, but that's unconfirmed.

Building permits. Vermont has no statewide building code requirement for single-family owner-built homes, and I found no evidence Brownington has its own local building permit ordinance. Absent a local rule, this may simply not apply here, but again, ask the Town Clerk directly.

Septic and composting toilets. This one is settled at the state level regardless of Brownington's zoning status. Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) administers the Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules, which require a permit for septic systems and most composting or incinerating toilets statewide.

Greywater. Also a state matter, DEC treats greywater disposal as a non-conventional wastewater system under the same statewide rules, no town-specific wrinkle found.

Rainwater harvesting. No Brownington ordinance restricts catching rainwater for non-potable use. This is governed by state guidance only, and nothing suggests it's discouraged.

Wells. DEC's Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division sets statewide well siting, construction, and testing standards. No added Brownington-specific well rule turned up in my research.

Utility disconnection. I found no ordinance requiring hookup to municipal water or sewer, and frankly Brownington doesn't appear to run municipal systems through most of its rural area anyway. DEC's water supply and wastewater rules still apply to whatever on-site systems you use.

Bottom line: state rules (DEC wastewater and water supply programs) are the real backbone of off-grid legality here, and the town layer may be nearly absent, but I'd get that in writing from the Town Clerk before treating it as fact.