Off-Grid Living in Marlboro, Vermont

I've been digging into what it actually takes to live off-grid in Marlboro, Vermont, and the short version is: this is a zoned town, and Vermont's state government controls your septic and water permitting no matter what the town says. Let me walk through what I found.

Zoning. Marlboro adopted a formal zoning bylaw back in March 2018, under Vermont's Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act. So this isn't one of those unzoned Vermont towns where you can just build. The bylaw divides the town into districts with permitted and conditional uses, and it's explicit that no land or structure may be used or occupied without a Zoning Permit issued by the Zoning Administrator. If you're eyeing a piece of raw land here, your first call is the Zoning Administrator, not a contractor.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I didn't find Marlboro-specific language on tiny houses or living in an RV. The bylaw's "land development" definition is broad enough that it likely captures these, but I can't confirm specifics, so ask the Zoning Administrator directly before you set anything up.

Building permits. Marlboro requires its Zoning Permit before construction begins, and I found that these permits do expire if a project isn't started or substantially completed within town-set windows, so confirm current details with the Zoning Administrator. The town also flags that you may need state or federal permits too, and points people toward Vermont's Permit Navigator tool.

Septic and water supply. Here's the big one: Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation has held statewide jurisdiction over wastewater and potable water permitting since 2007. A new single-family home needing a septic system or a well needs a state Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permit, issued through DEC's Regional Office covering Windham County. Marlboro hasn't been delegated this authority itself, so this goes through the state, not the town clerk.

Greywater. No town-specific greywater ordinance turned up in my research. It falls under that same state wastewater permitting regime, so treat it as state-regulated until you hear otherwise from DEC.

Rainwater harvesting. I found no Marlboro or state rule restricting rainwater collection, so this looks straightforwardly permitted, though I'd still mention your plans to the Zoning Administrator if it affects your building plans.

Wells. Well construction and siting run through the state's potable water supply permitting program rather than a separate Marlboro ordinance.

Utilities. There's no municipal water or sewer system covering most of rural Marlboro, and I found no bylaw forcing hookup to utilities. Going off-grid on power and water looks workable here, as long as you've got your Zoning Permit and, where applicable, your state wastewater/water permit in hand.

Bottom line: Marlboro's town government controls whether and how you can build (via zoning), while Vermont's DEC controls your septic and water supply no matter what the town says. Confirm everything current with both offices before you buy land or start work.