Information for New Residents

Welcome from the City 

The City of Burlington is a vibrant place to live, work and play. Home to 43,000 residents, Burlington boasts a tight knit community feel in a small city environment. Nestled along the shores of Lake Champlain, Burlington not only has access to a variety of natural resources and recreational activities, but also offers a diverse and unique collection of local businesses all within close proximity. Living here, you will find that Burlington offers an array of amenities; world class healthcare and educational facilities, a growing arts and entertainment industry, culinary delights arising from increasing cultural diversity, to a booming craft beer industry, making the Queen City a popular place for people to live and thrive. It is also an environmentally conscious city, sourcing all its power from renewable sources and currently on a mission to become the first Net Zero city across its electric, heating, and ground transportation sectors. With new residents joining our community throughout the year, we have compiled a list of information that we hope can ease your transition into life in Burlington, and help you find important resources. Welcome to Burlington!    

Get Local Alerts

Sign up for community alerts to get rapid notifications about boil water advisories, 911 phone system failure, evacuation, major storm preparation, snow bans, beach closures and more. See further information and sign up to receive alerts by call, text, or email by visiting our Community Alerts Page. 

Coronavirus Updates and Resources

The City of Burlington has a department to specifically address the coronavirus pandemic and provide a local support system for Vermont residents. If you are looking for resources, have questions or want to see local updates, visit the Burlington COVID-19 Resource and Recovery Center page. To see local COVID-19 data, visit the COVID-19 BTV Dashboard. You may contact the RRC at 802-755-7239 or recovery@burlingtonvt.gov Monday to Friday 8:00am-4:30pm if you need assistance. 

Parking

As a new resident, you may be curious how parking operates within Burlington. While parking is not always free, all three City garages offer free parking on Sundays, city-recognized holidays and during winter snow bans. Visit Park Burlington for more information on rates, tickets and parking maps. We recommend downloading the Parkmobile Parking App to easily pay for parking in metered locations. Curious about what to do during winter parking bans? Visit our Winter Parking page for further instructions.   

Public Transportation

Curious what modes of transportation are available besides cars? Our city has a variety of options.

• Green Mountain Transit - Local bus system
• Car Share Vermont - Affordable alternative to owning a car
• Local Motion - Bikes for purchase and rentals along the waterfront
• North Star Sports - E-Bikes & regular bikes for purchase and day rentals
• Greenride Bikeshare - Hourly rentals at stations across the City 

Neighborhood Forum

Looking to stay in touch with what's happening in your neighborhood? Front Porch Forum is commonly used to connect with neighbors in your local area. See anything from City updates, to neighborhood notices, to neighbors buying or selling on the platform. 

Get to Know Local Businesses

Wondering what businesses are in the area? Looking to find something specific? Love Burlington is a new local online directory that will help you find what you're looking for. Find who’s offering delivery, local, woman-owned, and BIPOC businesses to support, and discover new shops and restaurants across town. In addition to this, they also feature a city wide Events Calendar, where you can see what's happening in your area.   

Register to Vote

If you plan on voting in Burlington, please go to our Elections Page to see how to register, how to vote, and view important election dates. 

Burlington Taxes

Curious about property taxes in the City? Visit our Clerk/Treasurer's Property Tax Page to find more information. 

The City and Community Connections

While visiting the City's website is a great way to stay informed, various City departments also offer other forms of communication and connection. Follow our social media platforms and subscribe to newsletters to stay up-to-date on City news and upcoming events. Below is a list of various City department platforms: 

Have suggestions or feedback? Please contact mbolas@burlingtonvt.gov to let us know your thoughts.