Vermont Notice to Vacate: 2026 Landlord Rules Under 9 V.S.A. 4467

The nonpayment branch of 9 V.S.A. 4467 requires at least 14 days actual notice of the termination date. Vermont gives a pay-and-stay right: the rental agreement does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders the rent due through the end of the rental period before the termination date, so paying in time stops the nonpayment case. The notice must state exactly how much rent is due (not including other charges) and must state the tenant's right to redeem. Per Vermont state training materials, properties covered by the CARES Act and HOME properties require a 30-day nonpayment notice instead of 14 days; confirm the controlling federal rule before relying on it.

Under 9 V.S.A. 4467, with no written agreement and monthly rent, no-cause notice is at least 60 days for a tenant who has resided in the premises two years or less and at least 90 days for a tenant who has resided there more than two years; weekly tenancies take at least 21 days. With a written agreement and monthly rent, the notice is at least 30 days before the end of the stated term for tenancies of two years or less and at least 60 days for longer tenancies, and weekly written tenancies take at least 7 days. Renting a room in someone's home with shared living spaces uses 15 days (monthly) or 7 days (weekly). Burlington applies longer figures, so do not use the statewide counts inside that city.

Vermont sets a 14-day notice under 9 V.S.A. 4467 for criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence that threaten the health or safety of other residents, which is shorter than the 30-day general breach notice. Per Vermont state training materials, a mere arrest is insufficient: the landlord must show it is more likely than not that the crime or illegal drug activity occurred, and the conduct must threaten the health or safety of other residents. The statute provides specific remedies for retaliation under 9 V.S.A. 4467,

Federal protection comes from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. 3955. a servicemember who signs a residential lease and then receives qualifying military orders (such as a permanent change of station, or deployment in support of a military operation for not less than 90 days) may terminate the lease at the lessee's option after the date of those orders. Vermont has no separate state servicemember residential-lease early-termination statute located in 9 V.S.A. Chapter 137. confirm 50 U.S.C. 3955 before relying on its precise terms. A landlord who receives a servicemember termination notice should verify the orders before proceeding.

A termination notice must meet 9 V.S.A. 4467 and the actual-notice definition in 9 V.S.A. 4451. It must be written, state that it is ending the rental agreement, give a legally valid reason, state the termination date, and give the correct number of days for the cause. Nonpayment notices must state the exact rent due and the right to redeem; breach notices must specify the material breach. A notice is also insufficient to support a judgment of eviction unless the ejectment proceeding is commenced not later than 60 days from the termination date in the notice, so a notice does not stay good indefinitely. Defects in content, service, or timing can require the landlord to start over with a corrected notice. Attorney review is available as an option.

Yes. Under 9 V.S.A. 4465, a landlord may not retaliate by changing rental terms or by bringing or threatening an action against a tenant who has complained to a government agency about a building, housing, or health violation, complained to the landlord of a violation of the chapter, or organized or joined a tenants' union. The statute creates a rebuttable presumption: if a landlord serves a termination notice on any grounds other than nonpayment of rent within 90 days after notice by a municipal or state governmental entity that the premises are not in compliance with health or safety regulations, the termination is presumed to be retaliatory. The statute provides specific remedies for retaliation; landlords should review the current text of 9 V.S.A. 4465 for details.

Yes. The city of Burlington applies a just-cause overlay on top of the statewide 9 V.S.A. 4467 defaults. Per Vermont Department for Children and Families training materials, a no-cause month-to-month termination in Burlington requires 90 days for a tenancy of two years or less and 120 days for a tenancy over two years, compared with the statewide 60 and 90 days. Treat the statewide 60 and 90-day counts as not applicable inside Burlington. Confirm the current Burlington just-cause and minimum-notice ordinance with the City of Burlington before relying on a specific ordinance section.