Permits & Licenses

Dogs & Wolf-Hybrids Licenses

A dog or wolf-hybrid must be licensed on or before April 1, or when it becomes 6 months of age during the year, or within 30 days of acquiring the dog or wolf-hybrid.

Certificate of Rabies are required and must be obtained by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the State Statute Section 3581 of Title 20.

For the purpose of licensing a dog or wolf-hybrid, a current vaccination against rabies means:

  • A dog or wolf-hybrid of less than one year of age has been vaccinated.
  • A dog or wolf-hybrid of one or more years, but less than 2 years of age, has been vaccinated within the preceding 12 months; or
  • A dog or wolf-hybrid of two or more years of age has been vaccinated within the preceding 36 months. The rabies vaccine has changed, it is now good for three (3) years.

License fees include a $3.00 assessment for each license sold, which is forwarded by the Town Clerk to the State Treasures Office. The funds collected under the subsection are used for the Rabies Control Program and the spay/neuter program.

There is a 50% penalty for late license registration. Puppies, new dog(s) or wolf-hybrid(s) licensed after October 1 pay half the yearly license amount.

License fees:

$7.00 Neutered/spayed dog or wolf-hybrid
$11.00 Unneutered/unspayed dog or wolf-hybrid

If you have further questions, please contact the Town Clerk.

Permits

The following is intended as basic information on the most common kinds of permits, but is not a complete list. If you think you may need a permit get help from an attorney, engineer, or other knowledgeable party.

  • Local Zoning: Tunbridge does not have zoning. You do not need a zoning permit from the town for any building.
  • Driveway: You do not need a driveway (access) permit to connect to a town road.
  • Flood Plain Zoning: If your project is in the flood hazard zone near the White River (Town Clerk has a map) there are requirements and you need approval. The town adopted this regulation a few years ago so that people in Tunbridge can get flood insurance.
  • Act 250 Permits: Most projects except farm buildings and single family houses (and sometimes even them too) require an Act 250 permit from the state. The requirements are complicated; more information is available at http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/permit%5Fhb/
  • Historic District: Unless as part of an Act 250 permit you do not need any special permit to do work in our Historic District.
  • Septic Permits: Tunbridge requires a septic permit for any new or altered septic system. Talk to the Town Clerk for additional information.
  • Well Permits: At least for now you do not need a permit in most cases to dig a well, but in order for it to be legal it has to be a certain distance from the nearest septic system, whether on your property or not. You are not allowed to put a well in a public right of way. Your well driller should know the requirements.
  • Building Permit: Tunbridge does not have building permits. However, the state does require a building permit for any building that is not a single family, owner-occupied home or a farm building. This requirement is not very well understood, but it exists. The permit is from the Division of Fire Prevention; the Barre office covers Tunbridge. The website is http://www.dps.state.vt.us and contains a lot more information about this subject.
  • Electrical and Plumbing: You are allowed to personally do electrical work in your own home. Similarly you can do plumbing work in your own home unless it is connected to a public water supply. All other electrical or plumbing work needs a permit and license.
  • Gas Fitting: Only licensed gas installers may do gas fitting.
  • Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Carbon monoxide detectors are now required for all buildings in Vermont where people sleep except owner-occupied single family houses. (But if you sell your home you need to install a detector first.)