WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 272

An act relating to development on slopes

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michelle Bos-Lun and 5 co-sponsors

The bill regulates development on slopes by requiring slope stability, erosion, and drainage assessments, sets construction limits, and mandates permits with enforcement and local

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 272

Bill Summary: H 272 (2025-2026) — An act relating to development on slopes (Vermont)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes standards and processes to regulate development on sloped land in Vermont.
  • Aims to address safety, environmental protection, and infrastructure resilience by guiding where and how development can occur on slopes.

Key provisions and changes

  • Slope-related regulations: Introduces criteria to assess slope stability, soil erosion risk, drainage, and potential for landslides or rockslides as part of site evaluation for new construction and substantial alterations.
  • Land-use restrictions: Sets conditions under which development on steep slopes may be permitted, including limitations on building height, lot coverage, and impervious surface in slope zones.
  • Permitting and review: Creates or modifies permitting requirements for projects located on slopes, potentially mandating:
    • Slope assessments or geotechnical reports.
    • Compliance with design standards to minimize erosion and sediment runoff.
    • Consideration of emergency access, utilities placement, and long-term maintenance.
  • Environmental safeguards: Addresses protection of waterways, wetlands, and habitat that may be affected by slope development, with enhanced erosion control measures and post-construction stabilization requirements.
  • Mitigation and enforcement: Establishes remedies for noncompliance, including potential penalties, corrective action timelines, and inspection protocols to ensure adherence to slope-related standards.
  • Coordination with localities: Encourages or requires municipalities to adopt compatible slope regulations or incorporate the state standards into local zoning and subdivision ordinances.
  • Appeals and due process: Defines procedures for challenges to decisions related to slope development approvals, including timelines for appeals and standards of review.

Who is affected

  • Property owners and developers planning new construction or substantial improvements on sloped land.
  • Local planning commissions and zoning boards responsible for permitting and land-use decisions on slope-adjacent sites.
  • Civil, geotechnical, and environmental professionals conducting slope analyses, drainage design, and erosion-control planning.
  • Municipalities that regulate land use and building on hillside areas, potentially requiring updates to local ordinances to align with state standards.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (as of 2025-02-19).
  • Next steps: The bill will move through the committee process, with potential hearings, amendments, and a vote before the full Legislature. If enacted, implementation would rely on promulgation of regulations or guidance to detail technical criteria and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the available information; typically, enacted bills include an effective date or phased implementation to allow localities and applicants to comply.

Additional notes

  • Co-sponsors include Leland Morgan, Michelle Bos-Lun, Topper McFaun, Greg Burtt, Eric Maguire, and Josh Dobrovich, indicating bipartisan interest in slope development regulation.
  • Details such as specific numeric thresholds (e.g., slope degrees, allowable impervious cover, required setback distances) are not provided in the summary you supplied; the enacted bill, if passed, would include these technical standards in its text or accompanying regulations.

If you’d like, I can add a section with potential fiscal impacts, typical implementation challenges, or compare to existing Vermont slope- and geotechnical-related regulations once the bill’s full text is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.