Off-Grid Living in Moretown, Vermont

I've been digging into what it actually takes to live off-grid in Moretown, Vermont, and the short version is: Moretown is a zoned town, so nothing here is "unregulated land" the way you might find in an unzoned Vermont town. Here's what I found, dimension by dimension.

Zoning. Moretown adopted Zoning & Subdivision Regulations (most recently amended March 2023), administered by the town's Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission. The town is divided into districts, including a Flood Hazard Overlay and a Preserve District for steep slopes and water supply areas, and uses are classified as permitted, conditional, or prohibited depending on the district. Whatever you're planning, raw land occupancy included, is governed by these local bylaws, not left open.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. There's no statewide Vermont rule spelling out tiny house or RV rules; it comes down to Moretown's own district-by-district use tables. I'd call this "varies" until you've actually pulled the zoning map and called the Zoning Administrator's office to ask about your specific parcel and dwelling type.

Building permits. Vermont doesn't have a statewide structural code for single-family homes, but Moretown requires its own zoning/land-use permit before construction, issued through the Zoning Administrator's office. Don't skip this step even for small or temporary structures.

Septic and composting toilets. This one's a state matter, not a town ordinance. Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources (DEC) requires a permit for composting or incinerating toilets under the statewide Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules. There's a narrow exception for very primitive camps using only sink-water disposal and a waterless toilet, but any soil-based wastewater system still needs a permit.

Greywater. Same state program covers this. No separate Moretown rule was found. A primitive camp with sink-only water disposal may not need a full wastewater permit, but check with DEC before assuming that applies to you.

Rainwater harvesting. No Moretown bylaw restricts collecting rainwater, and using it outdoors or non-potably looks fine. Using it as your indoor drinking supply likely brings you under DEC's potable water rules, so treat that as a separate hurdle.

Wells. State rule: you can replace a single-family well without a permit, but the location must be filed in the town land records, which happens at the Moretown Town Clerk's office. No additional town-specific well ordinance turned up.

Utilities. I found no Moretown bylaw requiring hookup to municipal power, water, or sewer, and the village center itself may still lack municipal sewer service. Off-grid systems, subject to the state DEC permitting described above, appear to be the norm outside any future village sewer service area.

Bottom line: Moretown gives you real off-grid room on wells, greywater, and utilities, all under state DEC oversight, but zoning and building permits are squarely a local matter, and you should talk to the Zoning Administrator before you buy land or start building.