Off-Grid Living in Cavendish, Vermont

I'll be upfront: Cavendish, Vermont is an unusual case in my research because it's genuinely unzoned. The town's own Planning Commission page says flatly there are "no subdivision regulations or zoning ordinances in the Town of Cavendish," and a title-search summary of town records confirms the same, adding that the Planning Commission is studying the question but hasn't adopted anything yet. That's a big deal if you're eyeing raw land here for off-grid use, but it doesn't mean "anything goes."

Zoning and dwellings. With no town-wide zoning bylaw, I found no general rule dictating dwelling type, minimum size, or where you can put a tiny home or an RV as a residence. That's genuinely unusual for a New England town. But Cavendish does have a Town Plan, Subdivision Bylaws, and Flood Hazard Regulations, so if your land touches a mapped flood zone or you're subdividing, those still apply. I'd call this "not confirmed" for dwelling specifics and push you to ask the Town Manager's office directly, since local rules can shift as the town adopts new ordinances piecemeal.

Building permits. Without zoning, Cavendish doesn't run a general municipal building-permit system the way many Vermont towns do. Health Officers can step in on public-health hazards, and the Flood Hazard Regulations impose construction standards where they apply. Still, confirm current requirements with the Town Manager before you build anything.

Septic and greywater: this is where state law rules regardless of town zoning. Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation took over statewide jurisdiction over all wastewater systems and potable water supplies back in 2007. That means new construction, subdivided land, or a failed system replacement in Cavendish needs a state permit through DEC's Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Program, town zoning or no town zoning. The same state rules cover greywater systems, since I found no separate Cavendish greywater ordinance.

Rainwater and wells. I didn't find any Cavendish rule against collecting rainwater for non-potable use. Private wells fall under the same statewide DEC/Health Department rules for siting and construction; Cavendish also runs its own municipal water system for in-village users, but that's separate from private well regulation.

Living off-grid, disconnected from utilities. No ordinance requires hookup to municipal water, electric, or sewer, and since there's no zoning bylaw, nothing in town rules blocks living off-grid outside the municipal water/sewer district. You'll still need to satisfy the state's septic/well permitting no matter what.

Bottom line: Cavendish's lack of zoning gives you more flexibility than most towns, but Vermont's state-level environmental permitting for water and wastewater still applies fully, and you should call the Town Office before assuming anything about local rules that might be in flux.