Frequently Asked Questions
Please check our list of Frequently Asked Questions for topics about our Town! If you have a question not listed, please contact us by email or call (802) 773-2528.
General Information
Please contact our Town Health Officer for guidance using our Contact page.
Notary services are provided consistent with our Notary Policy.
Our Town Hall does not have this service available.
Please visit the DMV website or the local office on McKinley Avenue.
Lincensing and Permits
An informational building permit is required for most projects, excluding interior remodeling. Please see our Permit Tracking Ordinance and Building Permit Form for details.
Please see our Permits and Forms page for the complete list of permits.
Call our Town Administrator if you have any questions as to what may or may not apply.
There are no zoning regulations currently in effect in the Town of Rutland.
Property lines are defined in property deeds. In most cases these can been seen in the property maps which are updated annually, and are available in a link on our home page.
A survey is the most accurate way to locate you exact property lines. Surveys maps may be available in our lands records, if they were recorded.
Deed and survey records are available in person at our Town Hall. Research may be done during regular business hours. Municipal staff is not able to do research.
There are no town wide regulations or rules about building structures or fences along property lines. There may be neighbor covenants or deed restrictions which do regulate this. It is the responsibility of the property owner to abide by these. The Town of Rutland does not track, research or enforce covenants or restrictions.
Septic permits were not required prior to 1987. Permits were filed with individual municipalities between 1987 and 2007.
After 2007 the Agency of Natural Resources took over all septic permitting. Click here to view the list of permits on file. This file is organized by year, homeowner (when the permit was filed), number of bedrooms on the permit, approval status, permit number and street location.
This is all of the information available to search for permits. Permits with a number are available in the Town Administrators office and can be viewed during regular business hours. Files are not currently available to be sent electronically.
Property Taxes
Tax payments are due each year in three installments:
- September 10th
- January 10th
- May 10th
Our Fiscal Year runs from July 1st to June 30th.
September’s payment covers the months: July, August, September and October. January’s payment covers: November, December, January and February. May’s payment covers: March, April, May and June.
One tax bill is sent out at the start of the tax year. No additional notices are sent.
We highly recommend paying close attention to when and how you make tax payments. We also do not send out notices when a payment is late until the end of the fiscal year. By that time, you could be considered delinquent and accrue interest and penalty. Call the office if you are unsure before making any payments.
Tax bills which are paid through an escrow account are sent electronically to four major escrow companies from our office.
We can’t guarantee that your escrow company is among those four, so it is the responsibility of the taxpayer to get a copy to their mortgage company every year.
In the State of Vermont, the owner(s) on file as of April 1st are those that will be receiving the tax bill. As a courtesy to our residents, the office will note recent real estate transactions and transfers and send along a copy of the tax bill to the new owners of the property in August each year. After that, it is the responsibility of the parties at closing to make sure each new owner has a copy and updated status on taxes.
If you bought a property after April 1st, note that the old owners will remain on the bill until the next billing cycle in August. New owners are responsible for making payments even though the old owner’s name remains on the bill.
If you receive a bill after you’ve sold the property don’t question it. You can do one of two things, keep it for your records at tax time OR send it along to the new owners if you have the ability. Just know we will be sending a copy to the new owners regardless.
Vital records / Certificates / Licenses
Requesting birth or death certificates is a fairly simple process. The State of Vermont has made it easier to obtain a certified copy if you or the person you are requesting for was born in Vermont. You may go to ANY Town Clerk in the State to request these documents. So, before you come in to our office, ask yourself, where you’re located. You may go to your closest clerk to get this document. If you live out of state and need a copy you may visit the online State portal to request and pay for a copy to be mailed to you.
If you decide to visit our office for this request, then please bring payment of $10.00 per copy in cash or check. We do not accept card payments for anything other than tax payments. You will be asked to fill out a short form with vital information about the person for whom you are requesting the certificate. You will also need a VALID form of ID when applying for the certificate.
Please call our Town Clerks office prior to coming in.
In most cases, 24 hours is required. Learn more here.
Deed records are available in person at our Town Hall. Research may be done during regular business hours. Municipal staff is not able to do research.
Online land records can be accessed from the Clerk Page.
Voting
Voter registration can be done at the Town Hall (complete details here), at your polling place the day of voting or you can register online.
The Vermont State legislature changed voting districts in 2022. Polling places have not changed. Please contact the Town Clerk with specific voting questions.