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Permitting and Inspections
The Department of Permitting & Inspections is open to the public Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Wearing a face mask is required. The front lobby will be accessible only for permit drop off and pick up. Public records will also be accessible. Limited staff will be present onsite while at-home and in-office work schedules continue during the pandemic. Staff contact info is noted on the Personnel Page
Rental Housing
Billing and collecting rental unit registration fees, inspecting rental housing units, enforcing minimum housing standards, issuing certificates of compliance to landlords, and funding tenant and landlord advocacy services
Construction Permits
Trades administration, including issuance of construction permits (building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical) and related certificates of occupancy.
Zoning Administration
Zoning permits, certificates of occupancy, and zoning enforcement.
Vacant Buildings
Enforcing vacant building standards, and collecting vacant building permit fees
Board of Health
Initiating public health actions as designated deputy health officers and ensuring compliance with the pesticide ordinance
About the Department of Permitting and Inspections
The office's main responsibility is to administer and enforce the Minimum Housing Ordinance (Burlington Code of Ordinances (BCO), Chapter 18), the Zoning Ordinance (BCO, App. A), the Building Code (BCO, Chapters 8, 12, 13, 18, 21, 25, & 27), the Vacant Building Ordinance (BCO, Chapter 8, Art. 3), Health ordinances and to issue Public Health Orders (BCO Chapter 17)
The department is designated as the enforcement agency for several ordinances, including BCO sec 17-9 (Pesticide applications), BCO sec 21-5 (Signs in the greenbelt), and BCO ch. 26 (Stormwater control).
In addition, Permitting & Inspections works with: the Burlington Electric Department on residential rental housing time-of-sale inspections - see http://www.burlingtonelectric.com/time-of-sale-energy-efficiency-ordinance - (BCO 18-500); the Department of Public Works on illegal dumping of solid waste (BCO ch.s 14 & 27); the Department of Parks & Recreation on maintenance of greenbelts (City Charter, sec 211, 212); the Police Department on illegal yard parking and nuisance abatement (BCO sec 1-9, 20-55, 21-19).
Visit https://www.codepublishing.com/vt/burlington for links to the ordinances administered and enforced by the Department of Permitting & Inspections.
