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Vermont: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Vermont has 339,000 housing units. 56% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1976. 73.2% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Vermont housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Vermont housing units by year built 56.0% of Vermont housing units were built before 1980 and 44.0% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 0.9%; 2010–2019: 6.6%; 2000–2009: 10.3%; 1990–1999: 10.2%; 1980–1989: 15.9%; 1970–1979: 15.0%; 1960–1969: 8.2%; 1950–1959: 5.5%; 1940–1949: 3.0%; 1939 or earlier: 24.4%. Before 1980 56.0% 1980 or later 44.0% 2020 or later 0.9% 2010–2019 6.6% 2000–2009 10.3% 1990–1999 10.2% 1980–1989 15.9% 1970–1979 15.0% 1960–1969 8.2% 1950–1959 5.5% 1940–1949 3.0% 1939 or earlier 24.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which Vermont Department of Health administers in Vermont.

How homes are heated

How homes in Vermont are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 273,000 occupied homes

  • Fuel oil or kerosene 38.5%
  • Propane or other tank gas 19.0%
  • Utility gas 18.0%
  • Wood 12.5%
  • Electricity 9.2%
  • Other fuel 1.8%
  • Solar energy 0.5%
  • No fuel used 0.3%
  • Coal or coke 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Vermont's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
6A100%14

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of Vermont falls in the Northern zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 166 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 152 days in the mildest county to 199 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

1.1% of residential structures in Vermont carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 2,848 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, none of Vermont's 14 counties rates high or very high for riverine flooding, coastal flooding or hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

No county in Vermont is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in Vermont

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets agriculture.vermont.gov agriculture.vermont.gov
  11. firesafety.vermont.gov firesafety.vermont.gov firesafety.vermont.gov
  12. firesafety.vermont.gov firesafety.vermont.gov firesafety.vermont.gov
  13. Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) legislature.vermont.gov legislature.vermont.gov
  14. Vermont Department of Health epa.gov epa.gov
  15. Vermont Department of Health healthvermont.gov healthvermont.gov