Why Guests Come to Burlington
- The University of Vermont and Champlain College. Both are in the city, so move-in, family weekends and commencement bring a steady stream of parents, visiting faculty and prospective students.
- UVM Medical Center. The University of Vermont Health Network's medical center is in Burlington, which brings patients' families, visiting clinicians and traveling nurses, many of whom need a month or more.
- Church Street Marketplace and the waterfront. Founded in 1981, the Marketplace has more than 100 shops, restaurants and small businesses on four pedestrian blocks, a short walk from the Lake Champlain waterfront.
- The Burlington Greenway and the Island Line. Local Motion describes 8 paved miles of the Burlington Greenway from Oakledge Park to Airport Park, where the Island Line Trail continues onto the Colchester Causeway toward the islands.
- Festivals. The Flynn's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival ran June 3 to 7, 2026, its 43rd year, across the Flynn, Waterfront Park and dozens of free downtown stages. The Vermont City Marathon runs every Memorial Day weekend; RunVermont lists the 2027 race for May 30, with registration opening October 1, 2026.
- The airport. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), operated by the City of Burlington, sits just over the line in South Burlington, and its Project NexT terminal expansion has opened to passengers.
The Burlington Rental Year
Summer is peak season: lake days, sailing, the bike path and festivals from June through Labor Day. September and October bring college move-in, family weekends and foliage visitors. Winter is a quieter mix of skiers using the city as a base, hospital visitors and business travel. Spring fills around commencement in May and the marathon on Memorial Day weekend. Medical and academic stays run all year, and many of them are 30 nights or longer, which puts them outside the short-term rental rules entirely (see our mid-term rentals guide).
Short-Term Rental Rules in Burlington
Burlington regulates short-term rentals in Chapter 18 (Housing) of its Code of Ordinances, effective August 3, 2022, and administered by the Department of Permitting and Inspections (DPI). As of October 2026, the city's short-term rental FAQ, still posted on the DPI page, summarizes the rules this way:
| Rule | What the city says |
|---|---|
| What counts | A room of at least 70 sq. ft. in the host's primary residence, or a whole unit, rented more than 14 days in any rolling 12 months, for less than 30 consecutive days per guest |
| Where the host lives | In most cases the rental must be on-site: in your primary residence, or in a unit on the same lot or in the same building |
| Second units | An owner may rent a unit other than their primary residence in buildings or lots with fewer than five dwelling units |
| Off-site rentals | Only if the Assessor lists the unit as a seasonal home, or the building includes an affordable unit beyond what is otherwise required |
| How many | In most cases one short-term rental per host; you cannot use several companies to register more |
| Registration | With the DPI Housing Division by April 1 every year, online |
| Inspections | Required for whole-unit rentals, not for rooms in your own home |
| Enforcement | Housing orders, municipal tickets and court action to stop the use |
In practice, a whole house the owner does not live in is generally not allowed as a short-term rental unless it is an assessor-listed seasonal home. Ask the Housing Division at 802-863-0442 before you buy or list.
City tax. Burlington collects its own lodging taxes instead of the state's 1% local option tax. Its tax ordinance, as amended, sets a 9% tax on gross receipts from short-term rentals, with 7 points dedicated to the city's Housing Trust Fund. Airbnb's Vermont tax page says it collects the City of Burlington tax at 2% to 9% depending on listing type; confirm what applies to your listing and whether you need your own gross receipts account with the city (802-865-7000).
State tax. On top of the city tax, Vermont's 9% rooms tax and 3% short-term rental surcharge apply, and platforms collect them on their bookings. Our Vermont rules and taxes page covers registration, the 8-guest fire safety line and what you must post inside.
Running a Rental in Burlington
- Plan around the host rule first. If you live in a duplex or triplex, the second unit is the realistic short-term rental. If you are moving away, a furnished stay of 30 nights or more for hospital or university visitors may fit better than nightly bookings.
- Winter parking bans. The city declares citywide parking bans during snowstorms, and cars left on the street can be ticketed and towed. Make sure guests have an off-street space, and tell them how ban nights are announced.
- Inspections and housing code. Whole-unit rentals are inspected under Chapter 18's minimum housing standards, so fix alarms, egress and heat before the inspector comes, not after.
- Neighbors are close. With the host living on site, often in a duplex or triplex, clear quiet hours, trash day instructions and a firm no-party rule protect everyone.
How New England Host Co Works in Burlington
New England Host Co manages short-term rentals across Vermont, and every home must be within 45 minutes of its crew's base, so send us your Burlington address and we will confirm. Full-service management covers listing and photography, daily pricing with PriceLabs, guest messaging, and housekeeping with an inspection after every stay; co-hosting is offered instead if you want to stay hands-on. Registration and permit fees stay with the owner. Nearby towns are on our Greater Burlington page.
FAQ
Can I rent my whole house in Burlington on Airbnb if I don't live there?
In most cases, no. Burlington requires the rental to be on-site, in or on the same lot as the host's primary residence. The exceptions are units the Assessor lists as seasonal homes and buildings with additional affordable units.
When Do I Register a Burlington Short-Term Rental?
Every year by April 1, online with the DPI Housing Division. Whole-unit rentals also need an inspection.
What Taxes Apply to a Burlington Short-Term Rental?
Vermont's 9% rooms tax and 3% surcharge, plus the city's own tax, which its ordinance sets at 9% of short-term rental gross receipts. Burlington does not use the state's 1% local option tax.
This page is general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice; confirm with the City of Burlington before you list.
Sources
- Department of Permitting and Inspections, City of Burlington
- Short Term Rentals: Frequently Asked Questions, City of Burlington (PDF)
- Burlington ordinance amendment on restaurant, hotel, amusement and short-term rental taxes (Seven Days legal notice)
- About the Church Street Marketplace
- UVM Medical Center, University of Vermont Health Network
- Local Option Tax, Vermont Department of Taxes
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Vermont (Airbnb Help Center)
- Bike Ferry and Island Line Trail, Local Motion
- Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, the Flynn
- Vermont City Marathon, RunVermont
- Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport
- Burlington parking ban in effect ahead of winter storm (WCAX, January 2026)
