Short-Term Rental Management in Vermont's Upper Green Mountains

What the Upper Green Mountains Are

Route 100 runs north from Waterbury, in Washington County, to Stowe, in Lamoille County, and on to the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. The two towns play different roles:

• Stowe is the resort town. Stowe Mountain Resort covers Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path runs from the village toward the mountain, and the events calendar runs from the Winter Carnival in January to the Foliage Arts Festival in October.
• Waterbury is the gateway, with the Ben and Jerry's factory tours, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Little River State Park on the Waterbury Reservoir, and the Waterbury-Stowe stop on Amtrak's Vermonter.

The Seasons

Winter is the main season for homes near the mountain, with ski weeks, holidays and school vacations booking first. Spring is the slow stretch, the right time for maintenance. Summer brings hikers, paddlers and festival weekends, and Waterbury's reservoir and state park keep the south end busy. Foliage in late September and October is the second peak along the whole corridor. Our seasonal pricing guide and winter rental management page go deeper on both peaks.

The Rules Landscape, as of October 2026

Vermont lets each town regulate short-term rentals by ordinance under 24 V.S.A. section 2291(29), and these two neighbors show how far apart towns can be:

• Stowe adopted a new Short-Term Rental Ordinance in July 2026. Each unit needs a license renewed by April 30. Beginning September 15, 2026, the town may issue no more than 850 licenses. New licenses come through an annual lottery, held on or near July 15, and a license does not pass to a buyer in an ordinary sale. Residents can still license up to two units on their homestead. A responsible person must arrive within 45 minutes when the fire or police department calls, and the fire department needs lock box access.
• Waterbury passed a rental registry ordinance in May 2024. Every rental property, short-term rentals included, must be registered. Local coverage reported that registration is free and due May 1. It is a count of rentals, not a cap.

Both towns levy Vermont's 1% local option rooms tax (Stowe since July 2006, Waterbury since July 2024), so rentals in either town charge 13% in all. Neighboring Morristown added its own local option tax effective July 2026. The state rules, from the 3% surcharge to the Division of Fire Safety's 8-occupant line, are on our Vermont rules and taxes page.

What This Means for Owners

If you already hold a Stowe license, keep it renewed on time; a missed April 30 deadline puts you back in the lottery. If you are buying in Stowe to rent, expect to enter the lottery unless the home will be your primary residence. Waterbury is simpler on paper, but check flood risk carefully; Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and the July 2023 floods both hit the town hard. Condo buyers in either town should read the association's rules first; see HOA and condo rules.

How New England Host Co Works Here

New England Host Co manages short-term rentals across Vermont, and every home must sit within 45 minutes of its crew's base, so tell us the address and we confirm whether we can serve it. Full-service management covers the listing, photography, daily pricing in PriceLabs, guest messaging, and housekeeping with an inspection after every stay; co-hosting is a separate option. Permit and license fees stay with the owner. Ask through the contact page or see the Vermont overview.

FAQ

Is It Still Possible to Start a New Short-Term Rental in Stowe?

As of October 2026, new licenses come through Stowe's annual lottery, with the next one in July 2027. A Stowe resident may license up to two units on their homestead.

Does Waterbury Require a Permit for a Short-Term Rental?

Waterbury requires registration in its rental registry, which covers short-term rentals, but as of October 2026 it does not cap or license them.

What Lodging Tax Applies in Stowe and Waterbury?

13% in both: Vermont's 9% rooms tax, the 3% short-term rental surcharge and the 1% local option rooms tax.