Vermont (VT) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Vermont, serve a written notice (as short as 14 days for nonpayment of rent), then file a complaint in the Civil Division of Superior Court if the tenant does not comply. The entire process typically takes 6 to 14 weeks from notice to lockout. A court judgment is required before any removal; self-help eviction is illegal in Vermont.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, criminal activity, no-cause (end of term) |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 14 days (nonpayment or criminal activity) |
| Where to file | Civil Division, Vermont Superior Court (county where property is located) |
| Filing fee | About $90 to $295 |
| Typical timeframe | 6 to 14 weeks |
Tenant may stop the eviction by paying all rent owed in full before the notice period expires.
Used for material breaches of the rental agreement; the statute does not guarantee a cure right, so specify the violation clearly.
Applies when the tenant's conduct threatens the health or safety of other residents; no cure right.
Required when ending a month-to-month tenancy with no written agreement; weekly tenancies require only 21 days.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve written notice | 14 to 90 days | Deliver the legally required notice to the tenant; the period depends on the eviction reason. |
| 2. Wait out the notice period | 14 to 90 days | If the tenant pays, cures, or vacates, no court filing is needed; the complaint must be filed within 60 days of the notice termination date. |
| 3. File complaint in Superior Court | 1 to 3 days | File in the Civil Division of the Superior Court in the county where the rental is located and pay the filing fee. |
| 4. Serve the tenant with the summons and complaint | 1 to 2 weeks | A sheriff or authorized process server must deliver the summons; the tenant then has 21 days to file an answer. |
| 5. Attend the court hearing | 2 to 4 weeks after answer deadline | Both parties present evidence; the judge may also schedule a Rent into Court hearing for nonpayment cases. |
| 6. Receive writ of possession and schedule lockout | 14 days after judgment | After a judgment for the landlord, the court issues a writ of possession; the tenant has 14 days from service to vacate before the sheriff executes the writ. |
Filing a Vermont eviction complaint costs roughly $90 to $295 depending on the county and case type, plus sheriff service fees that typically run $50 to $100 per attempt. Total out-of-pocket costs before any attorney fees commonly fall in the $200 to $500 range.
After a judgment for the landlord, the court issues a writ of possession; the tenant has 14 days from the date the writ is served to vacate voluntarily. If the tenant remains, the sheriff returns to execute the writ and removes the tenant. Landlords may never change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out -- doing so is illegal self-help eviction under Vermont law.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: 9 V.S.A. § 4467 and 12 V.S.A. §§ 4851-4854. Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Vermont eviction FAQ
Most Vermont evictions take **6 to 14 weeks** from the initial notice to the sheriff lockout. Nonpayment cases with a 14-day notice can move faster; no-cause terminations requiring a 90-day notice add significant time up front.
Plan on roughly **$200 to $500** in court and sheriff fees before any attorney costs. The complaint filing fee is about **$90 to $295**, plus service fees of $50 to $100 or more. Contested cases with an attorney can cost several thousand dollars total.
No. Vermont law requires a **court judgment** before any tenant can be removed. Changing the locks, removing belongings, or cutting off utilities to force a tenant out is illegal self-help eviction and can expose the landlord to liability.
If the tenant does not file an answer within **21 days** of being served, the landlord can request a default judgment from the court. The judge can then issue a writ of possession without a full hearing.
Yes. Under **9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)**, a tenant who pays all rent owed in full before the 14-day notice period expires stops the eviction. Once the landlord files in court, paying rent into the court through the Rent into Court process may also pause proceedings.
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