VermontVermont law limits town rules for farming and poultry
Since July 1, 2026, Vermont towns cannot regulate some state-regulated farming or land used to grow plants, and must allow at least 12 chickens.
What it does
Towns cannot regulate farming activities that are subject to state regulation, except for matters involving smaller parcels of land and swine waste.
Towns cannot regulate land used to grow plants, except land used for cannabis or hemp.
Towns may regulate poultry flocks, but must allow people to keep at least 12 chickens; roosters and ratites are excluded.
The law updates the state's farming practices rule to match changes in statute and correct technical errors.
Argument forFarmers and poultry keepers may face fewer local limits because towns cannot prohibit covered farming or keeping a flock.
Argument againstTowns may have fewer ways to address local farming concerns because the law bars some rules on farming and land used to grow plants.
More detail
Municipalities cannot regulate certain farming activities. This covers agricultural activities that are subject to state regulation. Exceptions involve smaller parcels of land and swine waste; the summary does not give their exact scope. This rule took effect July 1, 2026.
Municipalities cannot regulate land used to grow plants. This covers cultivating plants or otherwise using land to grow them, except cannabis and hemp. Cannabis and hemp are excluded. This rule took effect July 1, 2026.
Municipalities may regulate poultry flocks but cannot prohibit keeping them. This covers keeping poultry flocks, with the stated exclusions for roosters and ratites. Towns must allow at least 12 chickens. Roosters and ratites are excluded. This rule took effect July 1, 2026.
The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets' Required Agricultural Practices Rule is updated. This concerns the state's Required Agricultural Practices Rule. The act took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 12, 2026To Governor
- May 26House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 21Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 21Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 21Senate Message: House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment theretoMinor
- May 21Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 21House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator IngallsMinor
- May 21House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, textMinor
- May 21Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 20House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 19House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 19Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 19House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 14Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further amendment thereto, as offered by Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury, Bartholomew of Hartland, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Brigham of St. Albans Town, Burtt of Cabot, Lipsky of Stowe, Nelson of Derby, and O'Brien of TunbridgeMinor
- May 14Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 14, 2026
- May 13Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 14, 2026
- May 12Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until May 14, 2026, which was agreed to
- May 12Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 8Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 7Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 6Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 6New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 53rd reading ordered
- May 5Proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture agreed toMinor
- May 5Proposal of amendment not agreed toMinor
- May 5Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Vyhovsky; textMinor
- May 5Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Ingalls for Committee on AgricultureMinor
- May 5Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) VyhovskyMinor
- May 5Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AgricultureMinor
- May 5Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 1Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AgricultureMinor
- May 1Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 30Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AgricultureMinor
- Apr 30Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 30Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 7Committee on Government Operations relieved; bill committed to Committee on Agriculture on motion of Senator Collamore
- Apr 3Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Apr 1Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 31Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 31Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 31Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury spoke for the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
- Mar 31Read second timeMinor
- Mar 31Action Calendar: Committee bill for second readingMinor
- Mar 27Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 31, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 27Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 27, 2026
- Mar 26Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 27, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 26Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026
- Mar 24Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 26, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 24Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 24, 2026
- Mar 20Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 24, 2026
- Mar 19Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 24, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Committee bill for second readingMinor
- Mar 18Notice Calendar: Committee bill for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Committee bill read the first time and placed on Notice Calendar of March 18, 2026Introduced
AgricultureGovernment & Ethics