Zoning Division
Please notice the Zoning Division has relocated to 645 Pine St as of Monday 12/02/2019
Welcome!
In this area you will find valuable information about planning for Burlington's future, as well as City permiting for new development. You will find a menu to the left to help you learn everything you ever wanted to know about our department and planning in Burlington, and below are some quick links of the latest and greatest stuff. Enjoy!
What's New:
- As of July 1, 2019 the Department of Planning and Zoning has been transformed! The Zoning functions are now part of the new Department of Permitting and Inspections, and the Planning functions are now part of the Department of Planning.
- planBTV: Burlington's Comprehensive Plan - The 2019 update to the City's municipal plan was adopted on March 25! planBTV: Burlington's Comprehensive Plan is the city’s long range vision for land use and development. This plan is like a roadmap—it gives us the big picture view of where we are and where we are going, and points us in the general direction for how to get there. We then use more detailed planning efforts like the Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan, the South End Master Plan, and the Walk-Bike Master Plan to take a more detailed look at the path ahead for a specific area of the city or topic and develop more targeted strategies for getting where we want to go. Under state law, the Comprehensive Plan must be updated every 5-8 years to help us make sure our policies and actions continue to point us in a direction to achieve our long-range vision. Learn more about Burlington's citywide long-range plan for land use and development at www.burlingtonvt.gov/planbtv
- planBTV South End Master Plan - The South End is rapidly changing. planBTV: South End is a community conversation to consider how to protect and preserve what is most loved about the South End while proactively preparing for the continued growth and change. This plan was adopted on March 25, 2019!
- Shared Office Hours with DPW-Inspection Services - As we work to implement the recommendations of the Permit Reform Initiaitve, Planning staff is holding shared office hours with the DPW-Inpection Services at 645 Pine Street every Monday and Friday from 8-10am. If you have zoning questions stop by and visit with one of our planners. If you have a zoning permit that is ready to be released, and you are ready to get your Construction Permit from DPW, let us us know in advance so we can bring the zoning permit down to Pine Street and save you a trip to City Hall.
- Permitting Customer Service Survey - As part of our ongoing effort to improve the City's development permitting process we want to hear from you! Please take a couple of minutes to fill out our online survey regarding your permitting expenience to help us serve you better. Thank you!
Need something quickly?
- Permit Status Reports: Zoning Permit Status Reports allow you to see what's being proposed in your neighborhood or check on the status of your own Zoning Permit application.
- Forms: Get a Zoning Permit Application Form. Don't forget to get a Checklist (or other forms) for the type of project you are planning.
- "Which Zoning District am I in?" Use the current Official Zoning Map to identify your zoning district. Allowable uses are shown in Appendix A of the Zoning Ordinance. More Zoning-related Maps: Map Index.
- "I need to close on a sale. Do I have any open permits?" Check the 'Permit History' in the Assessor's Property Database.
- "It seems like something fishy is going on... how do I file a complaint?" Contact the Code Enforcement Office to submit a complaint form.
- How to make a site plan!
- Zoning Ordinance: A complete version of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance is available online including all amendments through 1/02/18. Subsequent amendments adopted by the City Council can be found here: Recently Adopted Amendments.
- Proposed Zoning Amendments: Pending amendments to the Comprehensive Development Ordinance can be found at Amendments before the Planning Commission or Amendments before the City Council.
Upcoming Board Meetings, Agendas and Packets
Please visit the pages below for current meeting agendas and packets: