substack article by lexy thompson

What did Vermont just do?

Vermont passed two laws in the last two years that together reshape who can build what, where, on Vermont’s land — and what happens to the land where you can’t build.

The first law, Act 181, divides Vermont’s entire landscape into tiers. Tier 1 is where growth is encouraged — downtowns, village centers. Tier 2 is the rural middle. Tier 3 is land the state considers critical for natural resources. Act 181 also brings back a rule that was repealed twenty years ago: if you build a driveway or road longer than 800 feet on rural land, you now need a state permit. That rule takes effect July 1, 2026.

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