Short-Term Rental Management in Waterbury, VT

Why Guests Come to Waterbury

• Ben and Jerry's. The ice cream maker runs public factory tours at its Waterbury plant on Route 100, part of a short stretch of food and drink stops between Waterbury and Waterbury Center.
• Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Founded in 1974 and set on Route 100 between Waterbury and Stowe, the mill presses cider on a century-old rack-and-cloth press and is known for its cider donuts, a fixture of fall drives.
• Little River State Park and the Waterbury Reservoir. The state park on the reservoir has 70 tent and RV sites, 20 lean-tos, five cabins and 27 remote shoreline sites reached only by boat. Its 2026 season runs from the third weekend in May to the third weekend in October, and paddlers, anglers and swimmers come all summer.
• The Amtrak station. The Vermonter, which runs daily between St. Albans and Washington, DC, stops at Waterbury-Stowe, so guests can arrive by train.
• Stowe next door. Route 100 runs north from Waterbury to Stowe Village and Mount Mansfield, so a Waterbury home works as a base for Stowe trips.

The Waterbury Rental Year

Winter demand follows the ski season at Stowe, with weekends and school vacations filling first. Spring is the slow stretch. Summer belongs to the reservoir, the state park and Route 100 food stops, and it runs until the campground closes in October. Foliage is the other peak, when the cider mill and the Route 100 drive to Stowe are at their busiest. Our seasonal pricing guide explains how to price across those swings.

Short-Term Rental Rules in Waterbury

As of October 2026, Waterbury does not cap or license short-term rentals. It does require them to be registered:

• The rental registry. The Waterbury Roundabout reported that the Select Board passed a rental registry ordinance in May 2024. The town's page says all rental properties in the Town of Waterbury must be registered: single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals, and buildings with two or more units.
• Short-term rentals count. The town's registry page defines short-term rentals by the fewer-than-30-consecutive-days line, alongside long-term rentals, so both kinds are covered.
• Free, with a May 1 deadline. The Roundabout reported that registration is free and due May 1. As of October 2026, the town's page says the registry is being maintained and asks owners to check back this fall to register.
• A count, not a cap. The registry grew out of the town's Housing Task Force, which wanted data on the size of the rental market; local coverage described it as a registry, not regulation.

Zoning still applies to changes such as added bedrooms or an accessory unit. Questions go to the Zoning Administrator at (802) 244-1012.

On tax: Waterbury adopted the 1% local option rooms tax effective July 2024. A Waterbury short-term rental charges 13% in all: the 9% rooms tax, the 3% short-term rental surcharge and the 1% local tax. Our Vermont rules and taxes page covers platform collection.

Running a Rental in Waterbury

• Know your flood risk. Tropical Storm Irene dropped about 8 inches of rain on Waterbury in 12 hours in 2011, flooding homes, businesses and the state office complex. The July 2023 floods rivaled that damage. Ask the zoning office whether a property is in a flood hazard area before you buy or renovate.
• Register before you list, and keep your contact details current with the town.
• Fire safety. Vermont's Division of Fire Safety treats a rented single-family home as 8 occupants or fewer unless it says otherwise, and asks owners to leave its short-term rental checklist in the house.
• Water and septic. The Department of Environmental Conservation reminds hosts that wells and septic systems are sized by bedroom count, so sleeping more guests than the permit allows can mean a new permit.
• Winter. Plowing, ice on walks and a plan for guests arriving after dark matter here as much as in Stowe; see our winter rental management page.

How New England Host Co Works in Waterbury

New England Host Co manages short-term rentals across Vermont, and every home has to sit within 45 minutes of its crew's base, so send us the address and we will confirm. Full-service management covers the listing and photography, daily pricing in PriceLabs, guest messaging, and housekeeping with an inspection after every stay; co-hosting is offered instead if you want to stay involved. Registration and other permit fees stay with the owner. See the wider Upper Green Mountains or reach us through the contact page.

FAQ

Do I Have to Register a Waterbury Short-Term Rental?

Yes. As of October 2026, Waterbury's rental registry covers all rental properties in town, short-term rentals included. Local coverage reported the deadline as May 1 and registration as free.

Does Waterbury Limit How Many Short-Term Rentals There Are?

Not as of October 2026. The registry collects information; it does not cap or license rentals the way Stowe now does.

What Is the Tax on a Waterbury Vacation Rental?

13%: Vermont's 9% rooms tax, the 3% short-term rental surcharge and Waterbury's 1% local option rooms tax, in effect since July 2024.

Can Guests Reach Waterbury Without a Car?

Yes. The Amtrak Vermonter stops at the Waterbury-Stowe station on its daily run between St. Albans and Washington, DC.

This page is general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice; confirm details with the Town of Waterbury before you list.