Burlington, VT
Burlington plumbing permit fees
Burlington issues plumbing permits as separate permits through the Building & Trades Division
under the State of Vermont Plumbing Rules adopted 'without exception' — with the fee set by the Division at application. Owner-occupants may pull the permit for their own single-family home.
How this fee is calculated
These are the components the schedule defines for this permit, as they applied on 2026-09-28. A component only applies to your project if its conditions match — read that column before assuming a figure. Want a figure for your own project? Estimate this fee with the permit fee calculator.
No published fee schedule
Burlington does not publish a fee schedule we can calculate from, so this page does not show a figure. The department contact details and requirements are on the jurisdiction page.
What is different in Burlington
The City's Plumbing/Mechanical page states the legal frame: Burlington adopts the State of Vermont Plumbing Rules, and its adoption 'are no different and the same as the State of Vermont without exception.' Vermont master licensed plumbers must secure permits before working in the City; the one owner exception is the single-family home you occupy, where you may perform your own plumbing work including securing the permit.
The permit process runs through the Building & Trades Division alongside the building, electrical and mechanical permits, with the City's characteristic inspection ladder: underground inspection before covering, rough inspection before walls close in, and a final inspection confirming the system's operation.
As with the other trades, the City publishes no stand-alone plumbing fee schedule online — fees are set at application (802-863-9094). The building permit's printed rate remains the one fee the City's pages fix.
What this figure does not include
Impact fees, utility connections and other departments’ permits are the usual omissions, and in some jurisdictions they are larger than the permit fee itself.
Not included in these figures
This page documents the plumbing permitting process. It excludes:
- A priced plumbing fee table — the City publishes none online; fees are set at application by the Trades Division.
- The building permit fee, which the plumbing permit accompanies on most projects.
- Sewer and water connection charges, which are utility matters.
- Zoning and impact fees, which are separate City processes.
Common questions
How much is a plumbing permit in Burlington?
The Building & Trades Division sets plumbing permit fees at application; no stand-alone trade fee schedule is published online. Call 802-863-9094.
Can I do my own plumbing work?
In the single-family home you occupy, yes — including securing the permit. Rental and public buildings require a Vermont master licensed plumber.
What code applies?
The State of Vermont Plumbing Rules, which Burlington adopts without exception.
What inspections will I need?
Underground before covering, rough before walls close in, and final to confirm operation — scheduled with the Plumbing Inspector.
Is the plumbing permit part of the building permit?
No — it is a separate permit filed alongside the others in the City's OpenGov portal.
What about sump pumps?
They must discharge to the exterior on your own property — never to public sewer, a neighbor's lot or the City right-of-way.
Are bathroom fans required?
Yes, in every bathroom without exterior windows of at least 3 square feet, under the City's plumbing ordinances.
What does the building permit cost?
$8.50 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost with a $30.00 minimum, plus $15.00 recording — see the building permit page.
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- City websiteCityPrimary source
Construction Permits — Building & Trades Division scope
'Most applications that require a zoning permit also require a Building, Electrical, Plumbing and/or Mechanical permit.' Trades Division contact 802-863-9094; all permits applied for together in the online system; zoning approval comes first.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.