Vermont tenant screening laws

You may not charge anyone a fee to apply to rent a home in Vermont. To run a background or credit check, you must accept any unexpired government-issued identification (the original or a copy), an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or a Social Security number, and you may not require a Social Security number or refuse an application because it lacks one (9 V.S.A. § 4456a).

• The identification and Social Security number rules took effect July 1, 2025 (9 V.S.A. § 4456a(b)).
• Fair housing law also bars refusing to rent because a person receives public assistance (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(1)).See Fair housing on the Vermont page

Vermont law bars refusing to rent, setting different terms, harassing, advertising a preference or falsely saying a unit is unavailable because of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status or disability, because a person intends to live with minor children, because a person receives public assistance, or because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault or stalking (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(1) to (4)).

• Allow a tenant with a disability to make reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense, and make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9), (10)).
• The rental rules do not apply to a building of three or fewer units where you or a member of your immediate family lives in one unit, though your advertising must still comply. They also do not bar refusing to rent to a minor, or to a household too large for the unit under occupancy laws (9 V.S.A. § 4504(1) to (3)).
• Legitimate business practices needed to manage the property, such as checking references, are allowed, but not as a pretext for discrimination (9 V.S.A. § 4504(4)).
• Do not disclose a tenant's status as a victim of abuse, sexual assault or stalking to harass or retaliate against the tenant, push the tenant out or regain possession. Keep any documents about that status confidential (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(5); 9 V.S.A. § 4474).
• A person may file a charge with the Human Rights Commission or sue in Superior Court for damages, including punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Each violation can also bring a criminal fine of up to $10,000 (9 V.S.A. § 4506(a), (b); 9 V.S.A. § 4507).
• The Human Rights Commission's published housing rules require an exception to a no-pets policy for an assistance animal necessary to mitigate a qualifying mental or physical disability. Housing assistance animals can provide emotional support and need not have special training. Keep this housing accommodation analysis distinct from the narrower service-animal rules for public businesses (Vermont HRC Rules 1(a), 48, 49).
• Assess the individual animal and request. The commission's housing rule identifies direct threats to others, substantial physical damage, substantial interference with others' reasonable enjoyment, an unreasonable accommodation, undue burden or a fundamental change to the dwelling as possible grounds for refusal when shown. An ordinary no-pets rule alone does not resolve the request (Vermont HRC Rule 49).