18 V.S.A. § ___ § 4302
General requirements
Operative Text
(a) A person shall not manufacture, prepare, pack, can, bottle, keep, store, handle, serve, or distribute in any manner food for the purpose of sale in an unclean, unsanitary, or unhealthful establishment or under unclean, unsanitary, or unhealthful conditions. (b) A person shall not engage in the business of conducting a lodging establishment, short-term rental, or children’s camp under unclean, unsanitary, or unhealthful conditions. (Amended 2017, No. 76, § 5; 2018, No. 10 (Sp. Sess.), § 1.)
Vermont law under 18 V.S.A. ch. 85 § 4302 sets baseline cleanliness and sanitation standards for two categories of operations: food-related businesses (including manufacturing, preparing, storing, and serving food for sale) and lodging-related businesses (including lodging establishments, short-term rentals, and children's camps). Both categories are prohibited from operating under conditions deemed unclean, unsanitary, or unhealthful. The provision applies broadly to anyone involved in these activities, regardless of the scale or format of the operation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of lodging establishments, short-term rentals, and children's camps in Vermont are expected under 18 V.S.A. ch. 85 § 4302 to maintain their properties in clean, sanitary, and healthful condition at all times. Compliant operators typically establish routine cleaning schedules, address maintenance issues promptly, and ensure that all areas accessible to guests meet basic sanitation standards. Those who also handle food on-site should be aware that the same statute imposes parallel cleanliness requirements on food preparation and storage areas.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Guests and tenants staying in lodging establishments or short-term rentals in Vermont have a baseline protection under 18 V.S.A. ch. 85 § 4302, which prohibits operators from running such accommodations under unclean, unsanitary, or unhealthful conditions. If conditions appear to violate this standard, individuals may consider documenting the conditions and reporting concerns to the Vermont Department of Health, which oversees enforcement in this area. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help explain what options may be available under this and related provisions.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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